Archaeology, History, Art History - Keep Scrolling Down!


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Archaeology of Meso America


The Rise of Civilization in Meso America ~ the Teotihuacan, Mayans, Toltecs, Aztecs
This course follows the people of Teotihuacan, the Mayans, the Toltec, and the Aztecs from their beginnings to the formation of their cities, states and empires. They spoke different languages, but produced the same wonderful art, played the same ballgame, established extensive trade routes, built monumental cultural centers, practiced human sacrifice, and had similar pantheons of gods. The builders of these civilizations were an artistic, passionate, fierce people, who will fire your imagination. Instructor Lynn-Marie Wieland is a lithic (stone tools) archaeologist specializing in southern New England prehistory with an emphasis on the Indians of the Ridgefield area. She minored in Meso American Archaeology and has traveled extensively in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

3 Sessions $ 77 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 65)
Wed., 3/11, 18, 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Annex (66 prospect Street) + Zoom (hybrid)


Practical Buddhism


Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self
This course explores practical Buddhism as a path to self-discovery and inner peace. We will examine core Buddhist history concepts like mindfulness, impermanence, and compassion, and apply them to daily life. Through discussion on the myths of a happy life, you will learn to understand the human interconnection with the environment, practice cultivating self-awareness, and navigate the challenges of modern life with greater wisdom and kindness. Many concepts are found in the Buddhist bestseller, The Buddha in Your Mirror - Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self by Woody Hochswender, Gred Martin, and Ted Morino (Middleway Press, 2001). Instructor Charles J Greenberg is an experienced academic librarian with long-term appointments at both Columbia and Yale Universities. He was the founding Library Director of Wenzhou-Kean University in Wenzhou, China from December 2013 to June 2019. He then joined the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine as Health Sciences Library Director from January 2020 to November 2023. He currently is a lecturer at Camden County College, teaching English Composition, as well as a lecturer for the School of Information for San Jose State University, where he has taught online medical and health sciences information topics since 2007.

For dates - click Meditation.


English History


All that Glitters
England Jewels – diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls - some so dazzling as to be known by name: the Hope and Sancy diamonds, the La Peregrina pearl. All were treasured for their beauty and rarity. Within the grasp of only the very few who could afford them, jewels became tokens of both power and love; symbols to be protected, cherished, and passed down through the ages, and so they were. Yet not all survived. Some fell victim to greed, violence, and political upheaval. Some mysteriously disappeared. Let’s delve into the intriguing stories woven into their histories. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 2/6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


Charles 1 and The Civil War
With the execution of Charles I in 1649, the English monarchy was abolished and the country came under the Puritan, military rule of Oliver Cromwell.  Yet within a decade, Charles’s son returned to take the throne in triumph.  What had Charles II learned from the civil war?  Would he seek revenge for his father?  Actually, after years in exile Charles was inclined to not make waves, and it’s this attitude of “the Merry Monarch” that supported Restoration poetry and theater - a contrast to the Puritan era!  We will look at the personalities, circumstances, and extraordinary events around the Stuart’s restoration and rule. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 2/27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.

Cromwell, Commonwealth, and Charles II
English monarchs have long clashed with their parliaments over power and money, but never in so deadly a manner as in the reign of Charles I.  How was it that this king, a shy, reserved, devout man with a keen eye for the arts, managed to antagonize his parliament to the point of rebellion? The ensuing civil war saw the division of families, the destruction of property, and ultimately the toppling of the monarchy.  Was this civil war the triumph of parliamentary rule over despotism?  Let’s examine the issues and personalities that precipitated the civil war!  Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 2/13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


James II and the Glorious Revolution
Welcomed after the death of his brother Charles II, James II somehow managed to squander all the good will of his people and was swept aside by the Glorious Revolution.  For centuries James has had “bad press”.  Was he a tyrant trying to impose his Roman Catholic will on England, or is this one more example of history being written by the Protestant victors?  This class will look at James’s deeds and intentions and the historical context in which they occurred and invite students to draw their own conclusions. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 3/6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


Mary Queen of Scots
For love, power, intrigue, and scandal you can’t beat the true story of Mary Stuart! Queen of Scotland at 6 days old, Queen of France at 16, Mary could expect to hold the world in her hands, and had events gone as planned, Scotland would today be a part of France!   She expected to become Queen of England as well.  Instead, in a tragic finale, Mary lost her head.  Political ambition, intrigue, love, murder, plots, and deception:  did Mary create her own fate, or was she a victim of stronger forces?  Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 3/13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


Queen Elizabeth I - Gloriana!
Orphaned at 14, imprisoned by her own sister, unmarried, childless - against great odds Elizabeth ascended the throne to rule England for almost 50 years.   A lesser monarch might have succumbed to the pressures of court intrigue and plotting.  A lesser personality might have indulged personal whims and passions at the cost of power.  Brilliant, passionate, and a master of intrigue, Elizabeth managed to have it all and steered England onto a path of unity and prosperity.  Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 3/20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


The Versailles Settlement
When the armistice of November 1918 ended the hostilities of World War I, the peacemakers faced enormous challenges.  The war had irrevocably changed the geopolitical face of Europe; there were cries for revenge and retribution; and a delicate new balance of power had to be established.   What were the primary goals of “the big 3” - Georges Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Woodrow Wilson?   An overview of the issues, factors, and personalities at work in the drafting of the treaties helps us understand the decisions and sheds light on the ensuing events. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 3/27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


World War II Series - from the Interwar Period to the Aftermath in Europe


4 Sessions = All 3 Classes Below

4 Sessions $79 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $68)
Fri., 4/17, 24; 5/1, 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.

or Purchase separately.


The Interwar Period
Depression, upheaval, appeasement, and the rise of fascism and communism characterized this era. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 4/17 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


World War II
It can be hard to believe that only twenty years after the horrors and devastation of World War I, and the lessons learned from it, the world went to war again.  Did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles indeed provoke this, or is there more to the story?  What was the appeasement policy of the 1930’s? An examination of these events as well as the stages, operations, and theaters of the war will help us understand how the very alliance that secured victory over the Axis powers evolved into the deadly arms race and threats of the ensuing Cold War. 

Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

2 Sessions $41 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $35)
Fri., 4/24 and 5/1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


The Aftermath of World War II
Discussion topics include the Divided Germany, Soviet seizure of territories, and the Iron Curtain. Instructor: Nancy Maxwell (scroll down for bio).

1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Fri., 5/15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.



Nancy Maxwell - Instructor Bio:

As a student at Cornell, Ms. Maxwell was encouraged to major in Psychology, but her interest in the humanities was always paramount, and her reading of History has taken pride of place.

As a teacher and counselor in an international school in Switzerland for more than twenty years, she had the opportunity to familiarize herself with the palaces and cathedrals of European cities, to savor the extraordinary wealth of artistic treasure that they contain, and to walk in the very footsteps of historical figures.

Her understanding of European history has been enriched as much by exhausting days walking the corridors and grounds of the Palace of Versailles as by descending to the dismal, tragic halls of the Conciergerie. It has similarly been her privilege to tramp the Parisian streets from the site of the Bastille by way of the Louvre and the Tuileries gardens to the Place de la Concorde and thence along the Champs Elyses to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe. These experiences have provided both a mental and physical context in which people who lived centuries ago regain their humanity and tell their stories. It is her delight to share those stories with students.