Introduction to Norwegian History

The course is an introduction to Norwegian history 1000-2000. The course focuses on the political, social and economic development of Norway from year 1000 to year 2000, from the Viking age to the present day. The main emphasis is on the time period after 1814. How did the Norwegian democracy and the post-war social democracy develop? We will look at the changing relationship between the state, the civil society and the markets. Why and how did Norway become a rich country?

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, and should gain a basic understanding of the roots of and most important political, economical and social changing processes of modern Norwegian society defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The candidate

• should gain a basic knowledge of Norwegian history from the 9th century to the present
• should gain a solid insight of Norwegian political, economical and social history ca. 1800 to the present

Skills

Students should be able to:

• identify and analytically discuss key junctures and developments in Norwegian history
• critically reflect on Norwegian history and contextualise contemporary and past development in a broader historical context

Lectures.