History of Art: A Global Survey from Cave Paintings to Contemporary Practice

History of Art: A Global Survey from Cave Paintings to Contemporary Practice is an engaging Arts & Humanities course that traces the major developments of visual culture from prehistoric marks to today’s global contemporary art. Students will build a strong foundation in History of Art while learning how art evolved across cultures, periods, and movements with Professor Mark Davis, gaining the tools to look, think, and speak about art with confidence.

Explore The History Of Art Across Global Traditions And Major Movements

• Learn how art evolved across cultures, periods, and movements with Professor Mark Davis
• Build a clear visual vocabulary for formal analysis and art criticism
• Study major works from prehistoric, ancient, medieval, Renaissance, modern, and contemporary contexts
• Strengthen your ability to compare artworks using history, culture, religion, and patronage

A global introduction to the history, language, and meaning of art from the ancient world to the present.

This Arts & Humanities course offers a broad and accessible journey through the History of Art, beginning with cave paintings and ending with contemporary global practice. Each lesson is designed to help students understand not just what art looks like, but why it was made, who it served, and how it reflects the values of its time.

As you move through the course, you will study foundational topics such as formal analysis, artistic vocabulary, and the role of context in interpreting images. From ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to Greek and Roman art, from Byzantine icons and medieval cathedrals to Islamic pattern and calligraphy, the course builds a chronological framework that makes major developments easier to recognize and remember.

You will also examine the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and the many movements that shaped modern art. Later lessons expand into abstract art, postwar developments, and contemporary and global art, helping you see how artists responded to new technologies, shifting identities, and changing social realities.

By the end of the course, you will be able to discuss artworks with greater confidence, analyze visual details more effectively, and connect art to the broader human story. Whether you are studying for personal enrichment or preparing for deeper academic work, you will finish with a stronger understanding of History of Art and a new ability to interpret art across time and place.