HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIA

Course at North Adams State College

Dan Connerton



Syllabus

I. Purpose of the course

A.

To study and comprehend Scandinavia--or the "Norden"--in the overall context of European history, but as a distinct and significant region within Europe.

B.

To study and evaluate the political, economic, and social history of Scandinavia in domestic and in world affairs from the Viking Period to the present.

C.

To study and recognize the differences as well as similarities among the Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, and Icelanders in the past and in the present.

D.

To draw some conclusions about the latest Post-Cold-War role for Scandinavia in the "new world order" and in the European Union (EU).


II. Texts and Sources

Roesdahl, Else: The Vikings. 1987

Nordstrom, Byron J.: A History of Early Modern Scandinavia. 1995

Films, library books


III. Tests & Examinations

20% - Map, film critiques, 12 weekly internet-news reports, Nordstrom text critiques

20% - 5 book reports (Roesdahl + 4 biographies)

20% - Mid semester

20% - Final exam


IV. Schedule of Lectures, films

Lecture Topics Internet Reports Book Reports
Introduction: themes, people, geographyFeb 2
Feb 9		 Feb 9
Mar 8
Viking Period - Middle Ages, 8th-15th cent.Feb 16
Feb 23		Mar 1
Mar 8
Mid Semester Exam
Reformation, Absolutism, Empire,
16th - 18th Centuries		April 5
April 12
April 19
April 26		April 1
April 22
International Peace & Domestic State-Welfare
19th & 20th Centuries		May 3
May 10		May 15

Topics for Readings/Research Reports

Scandinavian History

Middle Ages
Ansgar
Bishop Absalon
Adam of Bremen
King Canute (Cnut)
Olaf Tryggvesson
Leif Eriksson
The Norse Sagas
Queen Margaret (1387-1412) Dan, Nor, & Sverige
Christian IV, Danmark
Hanseatic League
Gustavus Vasa, 1523-1560
Gustavus II Adolphus

17th/18 Centuries
Charles XII, Vasa, 1697-1718
Charles X, Vasa, 1654-60
Johann Freidrich Struensee

19th Century
N.F.S. Grundtviq
Henrik Ibsen
Edvard Grieg
Hans Chr.Anderson
Edvard Munch
August Strindberg

20th Century
Karl Branting (Sweden)
King Christian X of Danmark, 1912-47
Jan Sibelius
Vidkun Quisling
Trygve Lie
Dag Hammarskjold
The Nordic Council
Gro Harlem Brundtland


For Bibliography check the following:

Amer. Hist. Assoc. Guide to Historical Literature. 3rd ed, 2 vols. vol I, pp. 998-1022

Historical Fiction Catalog

Essay and General Literature Index

Readers Guide to Periodical Literature

CD-ROM: Academic Search


Go to UNCOVER in the NASC On-line Public Access Catalog (OPAC) to find the following periodicals and their current/past contents:

Scandinavian Political Studies

Scandinavian Economic History Review

Scandinavian Journal of History

Journal of Baltic Studies

Cooperation and Conflict, 1965-.

Scandinavian Review, 1913-.

Scandinavian Studies, 1911-.

Scandinavica, 1962-.

American Historical Review

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