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Viking Age Scandinavia
Course code: SCAN2401.
Course unit value: 1.0.
The course will examine society and culture in Scandinavia in the period ca. 800-1100. Geographically the course will encompass Sweden, Denmark Norway, and the Norse colonies in the North Atlantic (the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland). In the case of Iceland the time-span will extend to the end of the Commonwealth period (ca. 1262). The principal themes that the course will cover include: the causes of the Viking Age; the development and emergence of the three Scandinavian kingdoms; the nature of the pre-Christian religion; the conversion to Christianity; the development of Church organisation; relation with Europe, in particular the Insular world and the beginning of written culture. Particular emphasis will be placed on presenting and analysing the various source-categories relevant to Viking-Age Scandinavia. These include, for example, runic inscriptions, place-names, archaeological evidence and saga literature.
The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment: one unseen three-hour written examination (50%); and two 2500 word essays (50%).
Tutor: Dr Haki Antonsson.
Preparatory reading and set texts:
