The rigorous study of spin systems such as the Ising model is currently one of the most active research areas in probability theory. In this talk, I will introduce one particular class of such models, known as lattice gauge theories (LGTs), and go over its origins, motivations, and then some recent results. Along the way, I will also try to highlight some of the key differences between LGTs and the usual spin systems. The general theme is that LGTs are spin systems with topological considerations.