Undergraduate Course: Scandinavian Civilisation A: Vikings, Sagas and the Road to Enlightenment (ELCS08037)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A wide-ranging survey of Scandinavian history and culture (literature, film and the visual arts), with a focus on the Viking Age, the later Middle Ages and the Nordic Enlightenment. At the end of the course, the student will have an understanding of the individuality of the Scandinavian nations, of their shared heritage and their connections with Europe as a whole in respect of the periods studied. No language knowledge is involved and all texts will be dealt with in translation. When available, this course can be taken together with Scandinavian Civilisation B to form a 40 credit block, ideal for outside subjects and full year visiting students.
NB: Scandinavian Civilisation A cannot be taken by students who have previously passed Scandinavian Historical and Cultural Topics. |
| Course description |
Syllabus: Scandinavian Civilisation A: Vikings, Sagas and the Road to Enlightenment
Week Class Topic
1 a Introduction
b Scandinavia: Where?
c Scandinavia: What?
2 a The Scandinavian Languages
b Runes
c The Age of Migrations
3 a Essay Preparation
b Vikings! Background to the Viking Expansion
c Vikings! Social Structure & Worldview
4 a Vikings! Ritual & Belief in Pagan Scandinavia
b Vikings! The East
c Vikings! Scotland
5 a Vikings! Ireland
b Vikings! England
c Vikings! Normandy
6 a Vikings! The Low Countries
b Iceland: Settlement & Society
c Old Icelandic Literature
7 a The Saga of Gisli
b The Saga of Gisli / Movie Review
c Christianisation & its Consequences
8 a Late Norse Scotland
b The Danish Empire
c The Hanseatic League - Trade and Influence 13th to 16th centuries
9 a The Reformation & Nordic Religious Movements 16th to 20th centuries
b Sweden as a 'Great Power': 1611 to 1718
c Norway & its '400 Year Night': 1349 to 1814
10 a The Nordic Enlightenment
b Science in Scandinavia 1: Linneus & the Swedish Academy in the 18th Century
c Science in Scandinavia 2: Brahe, Holberg & the Danish Academies in the 18th Century
11 a Sweden & Finland 1100 to 1809
b Charles XII and the End of Empire
c Review
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students wishing to enroll on this course must not previously have taken Scandinavian Historical and Cultural Topics 2 (ELCS08023) OR Scandinavian Historical and Cultural Topics: From Runes to Rock Music (ELCS08034) |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 44 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 33,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
154 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1) 40% Essay #1 (1500 words). Topic chosen from a list. To be submitted by Monday, Week 6.
2) 20% Essay #1b (1500 words) a revised version of Essay 1 taking marker's comments into account, to be submitted by Monday, Week 10.
3) 40% Essay #2 (1500 words). Topic chosen from a list. To be submitted by Monday, Exam Week 1. |
| Feedback |
Students will gain written feedback on their first two written assignments providing specific and synoptic advice on the positive aspects of their work, where it could be improved, and how this might be done.
Any student wishing to discuss their results in more detail should make an appointment with the marker. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of the main currents in Scandinavian history, culture and politics from the last Ice Age until c. 1800, as seen through a range of disciplines, using a selection of core theories, principles and concepts.
- Appraise a variety of source materials to compare and contrast ideas, concepts and issues while taking account of different disciplinary and geographical contexts.
- Use a range of approaches to formulate evidence-based responses to defined issues within the common understanding of Scandinavian history, culture and politics between the Ice Age and c. 1800.
- Develop effective communication, presentation and interaction skills across a range of media
- Demonstrate self-reliance, initiative, and the ability to work flexibly with others as part of a team.
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Reading List
Compulsory
The Saga of Gisli Faulkes, A. (ed.) (2004) Three Icelandic Outlaw Sagas: The Saga of Gisli; The Saga of Grettir; The Saga of Hord. Viking Society for Northern Research
'List of Rig' Larrington, C. (trans.& ed.) (1999) The Poetic Edda. Oxford World's Classics
Carl Linaeus: The Lapland Journey Graves, P. (trans. & ed.) (1995). The Lockarton Press.
Recommended
Brown, A. (2009) Fishing in Utopia: Sweden and the Future That Disappeared. Granta Books
Booth, M. (2014) The Almost Nearly Perfect People. Jonathon Cape
Derry, T.K. (1979) A History of Scandinavia. George Allen & Unwin, London
Mead, W.R. (1981) A Historic Geography of Scandinavia. Academic Press
Fullerton, B. & Knowles, R. (1991) Scandinavia. Paul Chapman
Meinander H, (2011) A History of Finland. Hurst
Page, R.I. (1987) Reading the Past: Runes. British Museum Press
Brink, S. & Price, N. (eds.) (2008) The Viking World. Routledge
Roesdahl, E. (1998) The Vikings. Penguin Books
Crawford, B.E. (1987) Scandinavian Scotland. Leicester University Press
Graham-Campbell, J. & Batey, C.E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland: An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh University Press
Woolf, A. (2007) From Pictland to Alba 789-1070. Edinburgh University Press
Sawyer, P. (ed.) (1999) The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings. Oxford University Press
Forte, A., Oram, R. & Pedersen, F. (2005) Viking Empires. Cambridge University Press
McTurk, R. (ed.) (2007) A Companion to Old Norse Literature and Culture. Blackwell Publishing
Larrington, C. (1999) The Poetic Edda. Oxford University Press
Byock, J.L. (2001) VikingAge Iceland. Penguin Books
Faulkes, A. (1987) Snorri Sturluson: Edda. Everyman
Warme, L. G. (1996) A History of Swedish literature. University of Nebraska Press.
Roberts, M. (1991 (repr. 2003)). From Oxenstierna to Charles XII. Four Studies. Cambridge University Press.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Classes will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10-10.50am throughout Semester 1. |
| Keywords | Vikings,sagas,Scandinavia,Norse,Medieval,Charles XII,Reformation,Enlightenment,LInneus |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alan Macniven
Tel: (0131 6)50 3279
Email: alan.macniven@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Vivien Macnish Porter
Tel: (0131 6)50 3646
Email: vivien.macnish-porter@ed.ac.uk |
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