Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance from Udemy

The history of art from Prehistory to the Early Renaissance

This is part one of a year-long college-level survey course in art history. This course covers art history from the Prehistoric Era to the beginning of the European Renaissance.

This course also covers ancient non western art in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

This course is designed as a basic college-level survey of art history. I provide an online textbook as well as study guides and worksheets. This course covers the language used to discuss art. A complete overview of art, culture, and architecture.

Each work is covered in depth, the works physical or formal properties are discussed such as technology used to create the work, color, medium, materials, composition, and shading.

The symbolism of each work is discussed and how to interpret the interrelationship of symbols in a work of art.

This course is the actual content of a course I taught at an accredited college in California called Ohlone college.

I designed this course as a series of clear, non-jargon laden video lectures and texts designed to help any student who wants to pass AP art history and or any beginning level art history survey course.

To develop an awareness of the monuments, techniques and media used during these periods.

To discover the stylistic differences and modes of of expression peculiar to different cultures.

To introduce to the student, significant examples of the visual arts pertinent to gaining a working knowledge of Ancient Art and Architecture.

To prepare students for ensuing courses of Art History.

To increase a student's sensitivity to the art of both the European and non-western cultures.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Help you pass college.
Visit a museum or art gallery and know what you are talking about!

Impress your friends and lovers!
Pass any basic level art history class at the college level.

Help you pass college.
Visit a museum or art gallery and know what you are talking about!
Impress your friends and lovers!
Pass any basic level art history class at the college level.

Syllabus

Udemy seems to change the extensions or file names of PDFs so here is how you fix it.

The problem with PDFs is a holdover from when I first created this class. (It's something Udemy won't fix.)

I am working on fixing it.

I am currently rewriting the online text and adding it as additional resources to the individual resources. As I move through each unit I will keep you updated, but, until I get it all done you will still have to follow some of the directions above for some units.

PDF Document with additional info.

One of the theories concerning the explosion or eruption at Santorini as being responsible for the destruction of Knossos seems to be false or questionable. A more reliable theory, based on discoveries concerning the languages of Linear A and Linear B seems to support that Knossos changed hands around 1500 and the Mycenae may have taken over at this point. I will be udating my videos soon to reflect this.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers the history of art from Prehistory to the Early Renaissance, providing a comprehensive overview of art, culture, and architecture

Taught by Kenney Mencher, a lecturer who has experience teaching art history at an accredited college

Designed as a basic college-level survey of art history, with a focus on the language used to discuss art

Explores ancient non-western art in the Americas, Asia, and Africa, providing a global perspective on art history

Provides an in-depth analysis of each artwork, discussing its physical properties, symbolism, and interrelationship of symbols

Follows a clear and jargon-free approach, making it accessible to students of all levels

Reviews summary

Comprehensive art history: prehistory to renaissance

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive and comprehensive journey through art history from Prehistory to the Early Renaissance. Many commend the instructor's expertise and engaging teaching style, noting the clear, non-jargon laden video lectures. Students appreciate the depth of coverage, including non-Western art, and find it an excellent foundation for AP or college-level studies. While the course provides valuable online resources, some students have reported occasional technical issues with PDF access, though the instructor is actively addressing these. Overall, it's a highly recommended course for those seeking a thorough understanding of early art history.

Instructor is actively improving and updating course content.

"It's great to see the instructor is working on fixing the PDF issues and updating some theories like the Santorini eruption."

"I appreciate the instructor's transparency about ongoing updates and efforts to improve the course materials."

"The course is continuously being improved, which shows the instructor's dedication. Newer content is clearer."

Excellent preparation for college-level art history or AP exams.

"I took this course to prepare for my art history exam and it provided me with an excellent foundation and understanding."

"This course is perfect for anyone looking to pass a basic college-level art history class. It clarifies so many concepts."

"I'm much more confident about AP Art History after completing this; the study guides were particularly helpful."

Covers a broad scope of art history in significant depth.

"This course is truly comprehensive, covering not just Western art but also important non-Western traditions which I appreciated."

"The depth each artwork is covered is impressive, really helps you understand the context and symbolism."

"I found the material thorough and well-organized, an excellent overview of the period."

Instructor Kenney Mencher is highly knowledgeable and engaging.

"Kenney Mencher is a fantastic teacher. His passion for art history is infectious and his lectures are so clear and concise."

"I really enjoyed the instructor's teaching style; he makes complex topics easy to understand and keeps you interested."

"I find the professor very good and engaging, he is truly a great teacher. I can learn a lot from his lectures."

Some supplemental PDF resources are difficult to access.

"The only downside was the issue with some of the PDF documents not loading correctly, which was a bit frustrating at times."

"I had trouble accessing some of the study materials initially due to broken PDF links, though the videos were fine."

"It would be great if the PDF links were consistently working; I had to manually adjust file extensions for some."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance with these activities:

Read 'The Story of Art' by Gombrich

Show steps

Familiarize yourself with the history and evolution of Western art by reading a comprehensive survey text.

View E. H. Gombrich on Fresco Painting on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'The Story of Art' by E. H. Gombrich.
Read the book from beginning to end.
Take notes or highlight important concepts and ideas.
Discuss key aspects of the book with classmates or colleagues.

Participate in Class Discussions

Show steps

Engage actively in class discussions to enrich your perspectives, ask questions, and gain insights from your peers.

Show steps

Prepare for class discussions by reading the assigned materials.
Come to class prepared to share your thoughts and ideas.
Listen attentively to others' perspectives and ask clarifying questions.

Create an Art History Timeline

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of the chronological sequence of major art movements and periods by creating a visual timeline.

Show steps

Gather information about significant art movements and periods.
Choose a timeline format and decide how to present the information.
Create a visual representation of the timeline.
Annotate the timeline with relevant details and dates.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Visit a Local Art Museum or Gallery

Show steps

Gain firsthand experience with artwork and deepen your understanding of the styles, techniques, and historical context presented in class.

Show steps

Find a local art museum or gallery that is relevant to the course content.
Visit the museum or gallery and explore the exhibitions.
Take notes or sketch artworks that particularly resonate with you.
Reflect on your experience and relate it to the concepts discussed in class.

Write an Essay on the Symbolism of a Specific Artwork

Show steps

Develop your critical thinking and analytical skills by examining the symbolism and meaning behind a chosen artwork.

Show steps

Select an artwork that interests you.
Research the artist, historical context, and cultural significance of the artwork.
Identify the key symbols and motifs present in the artwork.
Write an essay that interprets and discusses the symbolism of the artwork.

Design a Virtual Art Gallery

Show steps

Combine your understanding of art and technology by creating a virtual gallery that showcases a specific theme or collection.

Show steps

Conceptualize the theme or focus of the virtual gallery.
Gather digital images or 3D models of relevant artworks.
Design and develop the virtual gallery platform.
Upload and arrange the artworks within the virtual gallery.
Write descriptive labels and provide interactive features for visitors.

Career center

Learners who complete Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.

Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Comprehensive art history: prehistory to renaissance

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses