Context brings the brightest minds to your living room with perspective-shifting online lectures.

The Black Sea: A Cradle of Civilization with Dr. Nina Wieda

The Black Sea: A Cradle of Civilization with Dr. Nina Wieda


Love this expert? Subscribe to Nina Wieda's Club to have unlimited access. Already subscribed? Use your discount code to purchase new lectures and access recordings via your portal.

No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.

Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Please Note: Our staff is closely monitoring the evolving Russia – Ukraine conflict. Please visit our statement for additional details about how we are working to support our experts impacted by this crisis. 
Event Description:
The Mediterranean Sea gets all the fame, but its adjacent neighbor, the Black Sea, is even more central to the early chapters of human civilization. Its shores were home to proto-Europeans: people speaking the early language that eventually developed into English and Spanish, among other European languages. Kurgan culture developed in the steppes surrounding the Black Sea. Later in history, Greek colonies on the Black Sea coasts co-existed with local tribes that captured the imagination of early historians: pirates, amazons, and gold-washers of the Colchis kingdom, where Jason came for the Golden Fleece. The English word “slave” also has its origin on the Black Sea Coast. 
Home to some of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in human history, the Black Sea is becoming more popular with cruise travelers. With Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Romania, and Bulgaria sharing these shores, the Black Sea has always been the contested geopolitical prize. Most recently, the Crimean Peninsula – changing hands since the beginning of history – was in the news again. 
Led by an expert on the area, Dr. Nina Wieda, this Conversation will introduce the fascinating world of the Black Sea to its participants. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with increased knowledge about this ancient region and its role in human civilization.
This conversation is part of a multi-part series on Eurasian Culture with Nina Wieda. Each session is designed to be enjoyed as a stand-alone seminar or as part of a series. 

Nina Wieda is a native of the Caucasus living in Chicago, USA. She holds a Ph.D. in Slavic from Northwestern University and an MA in Nationalism Studies from Central European University. Nina also has experience in journalism, advertising, and consumer research – her writing has been published in three languages. She wrote her Master's thesis about the Northern Caucasus region. Dr. Wieda currently teaches at Northwestern University near Chicago.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
94%
(16)
6%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
S. (Seattle, US)
Another excellent seminar by Nina Wieda

A well-organized deep-dive history of an extremely relevant region. As with all her other seminars, Dr Wieda delivers an engaging, thorough, context-rich lecture that illuminates her subject, the Black Sea, as well as its relevance to region and wider history. Her lectures are brilliant!

M
M.C.D.S. (Kirksville, US)
Very much worth it

As always, great presentation and great presenter, plenty of information in geographical and historical context.

R
R.S.S.M. (Silver Spring, US)
Very informative about interesting and often overlooked region of world

Dr. Wielda is very engaging with lots of historical and cultural information about a little known part of the world. Especially appreciated how she describes evolving evidence about the history of different groups of people.

D
D.B. (Cheyenne, US)
Black Sea

Unfortunately I had to miss this talk, but greatly anticipate the video.

V
V. (Arlington, US)
Black Sea Seminar

This was a very interesting seminar.

Customer Reviews

Based on 17 reviews
94%
(16)
6%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
S. (Seattle, US)
Another excellent seminar by Nina Wieda

A well-organized deep-dive history of an extremely relevant region. As with all her other seminars, Dr Wieda delivers an engaging, thorough, context-rich lecture that illuminates her subject, the Black Sea, as well as its relevance to region and wider history. Her lectures are brilliant!

M
M.C.D.S. (Kirksville, US)
Very much worth it

As always, great presentation and great presenter, plenty of information in geographical and historical context.

R
R.S.S.M. (Silver Spring, US)
Very informative about interesting and often overlooked region of world

Dr. Wielda is very engaging with lots of historical and cultural information about a little known part of the world. Especially appreciated how she describes evolving evidence about the history of different groups of people.

D
D.B. (Cheyenne, US)
Black Sea

Unfortunately I had to miss this talk, but greatly anticipate the video.

V
V. (Arlington, US)
Black Sea Seminar

This was a very interesting seminar.