Introduction to Nordic History I (1000–1750)

What was it like to live in the Nordic world in the year 1000, and how did life and society change in the following centuries? How did state building play a part in people’s life and what did it mean to live through Christianization or the Reformation in this part of the world? What was similar across the region, and in what ways was life different in the emerging Nordic states, Denmark, Norway and Sweden? This course addresses questions such as these, aiming to provide both an overview of Nordic history circa 1000 to 1750 and in-depth study of particular issues. The history of the Nordic world circa 1000 to 1750 is a history of state building, changing religious affiliations amidst technological and cultural upheavals. The course discusses change and continuity within the region and connects this to the larger history of medieval and early modern European history. The course language is English. The course is aimed at international students interested in an introduction to Nordic history and to discuss questions about societal and cultural change in the medieval and early modern world.