Dr. Lorrie Wenzel is an author, Professor of Biblical Studies, church historian, and a former faculty member in the Religious Studies department at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. She holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Doctor of Ministry. Dr. Wenzel has traveled extensively throughout Europe, studying over 300 churches. In March 2023, she published a book entitled CATHEDRALS: Clues to Identifying Biblical Figures in Cathedrals Around the World. An energetic speaker, she regularly lectures about medieval art and cathedrals.

RISING FROM ASHES: POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM
Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., covering both the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Explore how the fiery ash affected each city as excavators uncover their treasures.

THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE
Explore the Hanseatic League, an alliance of trading guilds of Northern Europe and the Baltic region who successfully traded local commodities from the 14th to the 17th century.

THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Explore the history of the British Isles from prehistoric times to modern day. The presentation will also explore the following people: Henry the 8th, Queen Elizabeth, Sir, Francis Drake, William Shakespeare, Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Florence Nightengale, and Winston Churchill.

THE HISTORY OF SPAIN
Explore the history of Spain beginning with the earliest civilizations. Hear about the 800-year cultural and architectural legacy of the Moors, the rise and fall of the Golden Age, and the formation of the present-day country. The presentation will also explore the following people: Queen Isabella, King Ferdinand, Christopher Columbus, Hernan Cortez, Napoleon, and Francisco Franco.

THE HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS
Learn about the Netherlands and the history of the people who are known for their windmill and dike building, inventions that helped them reclaim land from the sea. This lecture will also look at the great Dutch explorers like Henry Hudson and Abel Tasman.

THE HISTORY OF THE EXPLORERS
Beginning with Henry the Navigator, hear about the explorers who changed the world.
The presentation will also investigate the following people: Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Ponce de Leon, Sir Walter Raleigh, Robert de LaSalle and others.

A HISTORY OF THE VIKINGS
Hear the stories of exploration, conquest, and settlements of the Viking explorations. Assess their civilization and legacy as it remains with us today.

VICTORY DAY IN EUROPE, MAY 8, 1945
Explore the celebrations from Paris to London to mark the end of WWII.

EXPLORE THE LEGACY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND HIS FOUR GENERALS
Delve into the history of Alexander the Great, the ancient Macedonian ruler, who established the largest empire in the ancient world spanning from Macedonia to Egypt and into parts of India.

THE SISTINE CHAPEL
Delve into the history and fabulous paintings inside the Sistine Chapel. Examine the frescoes of Michelangelo, Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Luca Signorelli, and other great renaissance masters.

THE LANGUAGE OF MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS
Millions of tourists visit cathedrals every year, but most do not recognize the figures before them. Medieval artists portrayed Christian stories in cathedrals, which were built for an illiterate community. Biblical figures and Christian martyrs each hold or wear an object that identifies them to the faithful. David grips the decapitated head of Goliath and keys rest in the hands of St. Peter. This presentation will help visitors understand the language portrayed in gothic art that adorns the great cathedrals.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Learn about the remarkable success of the Romans before and during the imperial period. Learn about their architecture, infrastructure and emperors that supported the stability of the empire which at its height ruled over 4.5 million people and 2 million square miles.

THE VENETIAN REPUBLIC
Discover the political and economic factors that led to Venice's great wealth and artistic riches. Beginning in the 8th century, Venice established itself as the maritime powerhouse of the Mediterranean world, a dominance that lasted over 800 years.

THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
Examine the people and events that gave rise to the renaissance. The presentation will explore the following people: Francesco Petrarch, Dante Alighieri, Giovanni de Medici, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Monteverdi, Machiavelli, and Vasari.

THE HISTORY OF FRANCE
Explore the important people and events in the history of France from prehistoric times to the present. The presentation will also explore the following people: King Clovis, Emperor Charlamagne, Joan of Arc, King Louis 16th, Napoleon, Renoir, Gustave Eiffel and Charles de Gaulle.

THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT GREECE
Explore the people and events that gave birth to democracy. The presentation will also explore the following people: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Hippocrates, Archimedes, Cleisthenes, Pericles, Alexander the Great, Homer, Herodotus, and Thucydides.

THE HISTORY OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Explore how the Turkish Empire and their sultans conquered and ruled southeastern Europe from the 14th to the early 20th century.

BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE: THE NOTRE DAME de PARIS CATHEDRAL
Consecrated in 1182, this cathedral was much more than a place to gather and pray. Through sculptures and stained glass, the building illuminated the bible stories for the illiterate community. See before and after pictures highlighting the renovations completed after the devasting fire in 2019.

EXPLORE HAGIA SOPHIA, ISTANBUL
Built by Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, this impressive domed church was the heart of the Byzantine Empire. Learn about one of the most famous landmarks in Turkey.

THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY
Examine the 224-foot-long embroidered narrative of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Located in Normandy, its 58 scenes are the longest continuous embroidery in the world.

MEDICINE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
Explore the history of medicine in the western world from prehistoric times to ancient Rome.

UNLOCK THE STORIES ETCHED INTO THE GATES OF PARADISE IN FLORENCE
Examine the significance of the ten relief panels depicting the Old Testament scenes on the doors of the Baptistery of St. John. (artist: Lorenzo Ghiberti).

MICHELANGELO, RAPHAEL, AND LEONARDO DA VINCI
Examine the rivalry and impact that these Renaissance artists had on each other’s careers.

INTERPRETATING THE MOSAICS OF ST. MARK’S BASILICA IN VENICE
Explore the rich history and meanings of these ancient art forms.

THE ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL VERSUS THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL.
Examine the architectural similarities and differences of the great medieval cathedrals.

THE SEVEN ANCIENT WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Explore the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The list of seven was a guidebook used by travelers in the ancient world.

THE GREEK PARTHENON AND ITS REPLICA IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Explore the building of the Greek Parthenon by Pericles in 432 BC and its life size replica built in 1897 in Nashville, Tennessee.

VIKING Cruise: OSA240214 Iconic Western Mediterranean: Resident Historian
VIKING Cruise: OSA240221 Italian Sojourn: Resident Historian
VIKING Cruise: OSA240228 Venice, the Adriatic & Greece: Resident Historian

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.