Course content

The course provides a broad introduction to significant historical developments and problems in western history and world history from antiquity, and Norwegian and Nordic history from the Viking age (ca. 800 AD) to the middle of the 18th century. The course explores important social, political, economic and cultural processes. An important objective is to view Norwegian, European and global history as interconnected, and aims to create an understanding that history can be seen from different perspectives. Significant themes include the political and cultural heritage from antiquity (ca. 500 BC to 500 AD), the development of the three civilizations western and eastern Christianity and Islam in the early medieval period (up to ca. 1050 AD), the connections between the Mediterranean sphere and other regions, the history of the universal Latin church and European expansion in the high middle ages (ca. 1050-1350), crisis and changes in the late medieval period (ca. 1350-1550), the development of global trade, enlightenment and the early modern society and political systems up to the first half of the 18th century.

Learning outcome

A candidate who has passed the course/module, is expected to have the following total learning outcome in accordance with the subject's syllabus, defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has broad knowledge of national and international development from antiquity to c. 1750.
• has broad factual knowledge of significant political, economic, religious and social historical themes from antiquity to c. 1750.
• can explain important processes of change and different criteria for periodization from antiquity to c. 1750.
• has gained insights into perspectives used to explain basic historical problems from the period from antiquity to c. 1750.
• has a basic knowledge of sources and of relevant scholarly literature.
• has achieved basic knowledge in the fields of source criticism, historiography and historical analysis that provide a basis for further study within the period.

Skills

The candidate

• can explain and convey knowledge of significant historical themes from antiquity to c. 1750.
• can structure and write shorter texts and a longer essay on themes from the period that fulfill academic writing requirements in terms of language, structure and source references.
• can acquire, analyse and refer to relevant scholarly literature.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, obligatory group seminars, and one obligatory written term paper. Obligatory group seminars, required attendance 80%. Course is taught in Norwegian. Joint teaching with HIST1300.

Compulsory assignments

• assignment
• assignment
• assignment

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

See curriculum published at the start of the semester, and other materials (reading and lecture lists and other relevant information) published on Blackboard.

Credit reductions