Settlement and Land Ownership in Norway ca. 1200-1660

The course will have two main themes: land ownership and settlement history. Both will be examined through the so-called retrospective method. Critical voices have recently been raised with regards to the classic regressive research on land ownership in the Middle Ages. In part, significant changes have been demonstrated from the late Middle Ages to the mid-17th century, while some researchers have concluded that the occurrence of tenants was significant even before Christianity was established. Within settlement history, we will emphasize providing insight into how one can study settlement developments within a geographic area by establishing high medieval maximum settlement and late medieval minimums etc.

The course will give students insight into sources, methods, and some current issues relating to Norwegian agrarian history.

Lecture and seminars