The History of the Antiquity and the Medieval Ages before 1550

The course gives a basic introduction to lines of development and problems in European history from the period of the Roman empire to ca 1550, which marks the end of the global medieval empire, when the church division was established. The overview also includes Norwegian history from the Viking Age and onwards. Central themes include the political and cultural heritage from Rome and the Reformation of a specific 'European Civilization' in The Early Middle Ages, the history of the universal Roman church, European state formation in The High Middle Ages and the 'modern breakthrough' in The Late Middle Ages. The background is the demographic and financial development in the period.

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge:
The candidate
- has broad knowledge in central political, economical, religious and social history from The Antiquity to the end of The Middle Ages
- can explain important changing processes from The Antiquity to The Late Middle Ages
- is familiar with different perspectives used by historians to explain fundamental historical themes in the period

Skills:
The candidate
- is able to apply his knowledge of this period to present and analyses central questions from The Antiquity to circa 1550.
- is able to carry through a source analysis that complies with the requirements of academic writing.

Lectures and group lessons. Obligatory term papers and group activities.