Study Days
Our study days are a great way to increase your knowledge about a topic of interest to you. The in-depth days are led by experienced lecturers who are experts in their chosen field.
Full day programmes normally last from 10.15-3.00 and half day sessions typically last two and a half hours in the morning or afternoon with refreshments provided.
An extra fee is charged to attend a study day. This is currently £35 per day which includes coffee and a light lunch with a glass of wine.
Our next programme, The lands of Alexander the Great:Then and now consists of 18 lectures stretching over six days from October 2024 to March 2025. We are also organising a special interest day on The Wars of the Roses on the 9th October 2024. Previous study days have ranged over a variety of interests from The Glories of India to the Wonders of Russia, from Tutankhamun to the Art and Culture of the Aztecs and most recently gardens from Hadrian to Hidcote.
Take a look at our upcoming 6 day programme focussed on the life and lands of Alexander the Great.
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Day 1: John Osborne. Wednesday, 23rd October 2024. Man or Superman? Alexander the Great in Life and Legend
1. Greece and Macedonia in his time. Philip II and his magnificent tomb
2. His campaigns and his astonishing successes.
3. His reputation. His legend as illustrated by books and manuscripts from all over the Middle East
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Day 2: Chris Bradley. Thursday, 14 November 2024. The Ancient and Arab Middle East.
1.Egypt and the Middle East
2. Rise and fall of the Romans and Sassanians
3. Islamic expansion, Ottomans and Colonialism
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Day 3: John Osborne. Wednesday, 27th November 2024. Turkey: from Troy and the shores of Ionia to Constantinople and Istanbul.
1.Greek and Roman cities on the coast of Asia Minor
2. From Byzantium to Constantinople
3. The capital of the Byzantine empire; Ayia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace to mention just a few
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Day 4: John Osborne. Wednesday, 22nd January 2025. Persia or Iran? The Empires of the Great Kings and the Arts of Islamic Iran.
1.The traditional landscape and culture of Iran
2. The Persian Empire
3. The architecture of Iran’s mosques and palaces
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Day 5: Chris Bradley. Wednesday, 12th February 2025. Central Asia
1.Sogdians, Parthians and trade before the Silk Road
2. Silk Road expansion and the Islamic Golden Age
3. Genghis Khan, Timur, Soviets and the Stans
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Day 6: Justin Reay. Wednesday, 26th March 2025. The Artisitc Legacy of Alexander the Great in Central Asia.
1.Art and architecture in Hellenic Asia
2. The Carpet Gardens of central Asia
3. The Great Game: Art in the early Raj
Our speakers
Chris Bradley
Expert in the history and culture of the Middle East and North Africa. As a professional tour guide and lecturer he has led groups throughout the Middle East and Asia. Has written extensively on Arabia and is the author of Discovery Guide to Yemen, Guide to the Silk Road and Guides to Libya; The Red Sea; Oman; Cairo; Abu Dhabi Cruising. As a photographer he has supplied pictures to four international photographic libraries. A broad range of lecturing experience, including to the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Institute of British Architects. As a film producer and cameraman he has made documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic, TV and Channel 4.
John Osborne
Graduated in Classics at Cambridge University. Taught Classics at Marlborough College for over 30 years. Worked for the British Council in Iran and Turkey, and lectures in Islamic Civilisation. Tutor, Marlborough College Summer School. Lecturer, Department of Continuing Education, University of Bath. Guide at Salisbury Cathedral. Lecturer on cruises and leader of numerous study tours to Bulgaria, Romania, Iran, and Turkey and other countries in S.E. Europe and the Mediterranean. Lecture tours of Australia (twice) and New Zealand.
Justin Reay
Retiring from business in 2001, Justin studied the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Oxford. He became a senior academic manager at the Bodleian Library, completed a doctoral thesis on medieval naval weapons systems, and studied Islamic art and architecture at Oxford, and Classical and Hellenistic art with the University of Athens. He is a tutor in the History of Art and Classical Studies at independent colleges in Oxford, and for private students. A frequent Arts Society and cruise line lecturer, Justin is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Royal Historical Society.