Viking Culture Then and Now

<p>What was Viking Age life really like — and how do we know? Explore the historical sources and how the image of the Vikings has evolved in art, film, and literature across two centuries.</p><h3>Viking culture then</h3><p>When did the Viking Age actually begin? Wood, turf, stone and daub: how did people live? How were families organised? Power struggle, curiosity or greed: what were the incentives for Scandinavian expansion? What impact did the Scandinavians have on the Anglo-Saxon and Frankish kingdoms? These are some of the questions we will ask throughout the course. </p><p>In trying to answer them, you'll develop important skills in interpreting, comprehending, and discussing various types of sources from the Viking Age. This includes studying written materials like Old Norse literature, runic inscriptions, and chronicles, as well as examining archaeological evidence.</p><h3>Vikings in modern culture</h3><p>The course will also study how Viking culture has been portrayed in later forms of art and entertainment, in literature, film, media, monuments, and cultural policies. Perceptions of "noble savagery", egalitarianism, and mindless barbarism in the Viking world will be contextualised and challenged. We'll pay special attention to its connection with the Romantic tradition and discuss works like Swedish author Esaias Tegnérs epic poem <em>Frithiof's Saga</em> (1825) but also more recent works like <em>The Long Ships</em> (Frans G. Bengtsson, 1941) and the film <em>The Northman</em> (Robert Eggers, 2022) as well recent TV-series featuring Viking topics. </p>