L&S Breadth: Historical Studies

Viking and Medieval Scandinavia will explore developments and trends in the areas of social structure, trade and economy, religion, political organization, culture, literature, and technology during the Viking and Medieval periods (c. 700-1500) in Scandinavia. The course will cover the main Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands), as well as the broader region of Scandinavian influence (Finland, North Atlantic Isles, Greenland). Developments in Scandinavia will be contextualized against broader trends in Europe and western Asia.

Texts:  Judith Jesch, The Viking Diaspora (2015); John Haywood, The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings (1995); Gareth Williams, Peter Pentz, and Matthias Wemhoff, Vikings: Life and Legend (2014) and a selection of primary sources in translation.

Prerequisites:  none