The course is well designed, and the material is engaging if you care for the subject. Two classes per week, half-ish of each class is dedicated to the history and the other "daily life," I believe he calls it. So, you'll learn stories and also how houses were designed and what clothes they wore. There are two midterms and a final, all multiple choice. They are filled with very specific questions, but most often, one of the possible answers is a joke, making them fun.

Professor Burgess is knowledgeable, he knows everything off the top of his head, and I think only twice had to answer questions after researching them. There is no textbook save an $11 booklet of inscriptions and maps. But because there's no textbook, you need to show up to every class and be completely present for it as you may be tested on anything he says. He's taught this course many times and has honed the material down to what is interesting and important for future CLA courses. He talks quickly but is enthusiastic and passionate about the subject.

Write down everything he says, rewrite your notes after class, re-read your notes every day, make flashcards with important dates on one side and what happened then on the other.