Alexandria Campus History Association
Activities:  Sprping Semester 2005

Dear Friends of Alexandria Campus History Association,

March 3-14, 2005:  Athens and Crete for $2450.00.  Have you dreamed of visiting the Acropolis in Athens with its magnificent Parthenon, seeing the gold of Mycenae, walking the Agora of Ancient Athens, sailing the wine dark sea to Crete, and studying the myths related Prince Thesus at Knossos?  The Greeks preserved and transmitted the technical and intellectual achievements of the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean civilization to Europe.  It is claimed by historians that the Greeks laid the foundation of Western Heritage.  They asked many of the basic sic questions concerning human existence.  Their history is a remarkable one that begins with the first arrivals around 2,000 BCE.  They reached the height of their civilization during the fifth century BCE.  Local warfare lead to the conquest of the region by Philip II bringing an end to the independent city-states.  Greek civilization was exported to the then known world by Alexander the Great.  The Romans absorbed much of Greek civilization and thus laid the foundation for European civilization.
    As we mentioned in our last communication, Athens should be in excellent condition following all the extensive building, cleaning and restoring in preparations for the 2004 Olympics.   Everyone has had praise for the remarkable accomplishment of Greece and the city to meet the demands of  such an event.  Athens will now be at her very best—we should see it.  The cost of $2450.00 includes airfare round trip from Washington-Dulles airport on Lufthansa Airlines; 10 nights accommodations in centrally located excellent hotels with twin-bedded rooms; arrival and departure transfers with English speaking assistance, porterage fees at airport and hotels for 1 suitcase per person, breakfast daily, 3 dinners and 1 lunch; sightseeing by private deluxe motorcoach, all entrance fees,  tips, an English speaking professional guide and tour escort with a thorough knowledge of art and history, and three experienced tour leaders to care for your needs.  The tour will take us from Athens to Crete (Hania, Rthymnon, Arkadi, Heraklion, Knossos, Phaestos, Gortyn, Ayia Triaha, Gournia, and Zakros), and Santorini.
    Prior to the tour, participants will have an opportunity to study the history of this fascinating period.  Topics include Minoan Civilization, Mycenaean Civilization, Classical Greece, Decline of the Polis, Philip II and Alexandria Great, the Greco-Roman Period, and finally, the Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks.
The class will meet on Friday evenings between 7:00-9:00 p.m. on the Annandale Campus on January 14, 21, 28, February 11, 18, and 25, 2005.
For additional information or a  registration packet contact Jean H. Braden (703) 845-6357, email-- jebraden@nvcc.edu or Gen Sen Chu at genchu@verizon.eom. 

May 9-May 30, 2005:  China:  Beijing (The Great Wall at Mutianyu, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven),  Baotou and Erdousi (Sounding Sand Bay, Yellow River Bridge, Yanbu Qi Desert, Wudangzhao Monastery), Hohhot (Mausoleum of Ghengis Khan, Inner Mongolian Museum,  the Great Mosque, the Bird Market, Dazhao Temple, Xilamuren grasslands), Xian (Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Qin Museum, Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Forest of Steles, Yang Tomb), Kunming (Yunnan Provincial Museum, Botanical Institute, Stone Forest), Lijiang ( Yuqaun Park, Xiangshan Mountains, Naxi Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, Dongba Cultural Research Institute, Lugu Lake, Yulong Snow Mountain) Zhongdian (Shigu, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yellow Hat Sect Monastery, Napa Hai, Bita Hai), Hong Kong )Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Fishing Village, Victoria Park). 
    Come with us and experience the excitement of visiting Central Asia.  When a person arrives in China, regardless of the season or place, it is always with the feeling of excitement and adventure.  The country is both beautiful and invigorating with potential for so many varied experiences.  One need only think of actually seeing the thousands of clay soldiers from the tomb of Qinshih Huangdi, walking on the Great Wall, strolling along the Avenue of the Animals on your way to visit a Ming Dynasty tomb, devoting an entire day to view the never ending collections of historic and artistic works of ancient China, or spending a night in a tent in Inner Mongolia.  Finally, we will finish every day with a fine dinner in one of the many restaurants found in every city.  Some of the evening activities include a traditional Peking duck dinner, an acrobatic performance, a Naxi consert at Lijiang, and always, the beautiful Tang dancer in Xian.
  The required course for tour participants will include a study of the following topics:  Early China, The Birth of a Civilization, the Neolithic Period, Shang Dynasty, Chinese Language and Customs, Zhou Dynasty, Confucianism, The first Chinese Empires (Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Mongols, Ming,  and China in the 19th and 20th centuries.  Individuals who would like to take the course but not travel with the group to China must have permission from Dr. Jean H. Braden.  The classes will meet on Friday evenings between 7:00 and  9:30 p.m. on the Annandale Campus on March 18, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, and April 29, 2005.  A special Field Trip to the Freer and Sackler Galleries has been scheduled for March 26, 2005. The trip Orientation Session will be held at the Peking Gourmet Restaurant on Saturday, April 30, 2005.
    The cost of $3525.00 includes all transportation (air and land), excellent hotels, all meals, tips, twin bedded  rooms, a Chinese National Guide and Local Guides with an excellent knowledge of history, art, and the English language, and the assistance of three experienced NVCC tour leaders.  For information or registration packet telephone Dr. Jean ;H. Braden 703-845-6357, email jebraden@nvcc.edu or Dr. Gen Sen Chu at genchu@verizon.com.

The ACH Steering Committe
and Jean H. Braden

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