Five Prominent Leaders of the 20th Century

Day of Week: Thursday
Course Length: 5 weeks
Starting: 10/31/2024
Ending: 12/05/2024
Period of Day: Period 1 Zoom
Time: 9:30 - 11:00
Course Fee: $50

Course Description:

We have all lived through the tumultuous 20th century with its larger-than-life leaders. Some of them, like Stalin and Hitler, we would actually like to forget, if that were possible. In this course we will examine five of the most notable leaders from around the world who have had major influence well beyond their borders. They were all complicated personalities with complicated legacies that we will try to explore together. The leaders we have chosen are from four continents and five countries, representing diverse cultures. They are Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Mao Tse Tung, and Winston Churchill. Come join us as we dive into the psychology, culture, achievements, failures, and legacies of those illustrious leaders of our lifetime.  We will discuss one leader each week; the class will be a combination of lecture and discussion.  Participants will be given weekly articles and videos to watch and read as optional homework.

Books and Other Resources:

Optional articles and videos will be provided.

Course Leader Bio(s)

Margalit Lai

I have given several courses over the years at LLAIC and found that history is my real niche. My last course was about the British empire. Other courses I have given over the years were about Israel, the history of Russia, atheism, and why nations fail.

Margaret Dergalis

I have always been fascinated by history, biography and memoirs. In high school, I debated about a major in history or French. I taught French for a number of years, but my passion has only grown and I look forward to teaming up with Margalit for this in-depth study of world leaders.