This class offers a gripping exploration of espionage from antiquity to the age of cyber warfare, revealing how covert operations have shaped global history. Far beyond the world of fiction, uncover the real strategies, organisations, and personalities that operated in the shadows — from Ivan the Terrible's Oprichnina to the CIA and Mossad. Through vivid case studies, you'll examine how intelligence agencies gathered secrets, disrupted rivals, and influenced major geopolitical turning points. Alongside legendary figures such as Sir Francis Walsingham, Mata Hari, and Kim Philby, the class investigates the psychology of spying, the ethics of surveillance, and the rise of digital espionage. Trace how clandestine operations affected wars, revolutions, and diplomatic crises, and consider whether we now live in a true surveillance society. By the end, you'll gain a nuanced understanding of espionage as a powerful, often hidden force that continues to shape international affairs. Lecture style with question and answer time.