Course content

The course will explore significant topics in the first millennium AD in one or more regions of western Eurasia and North Africa. The different topics on offer may follow developments across broad chronological and geographic specters. This may entail, on the one hand, the development, adaptation and change of late antique civilization in the successor states, such as the Frankish, Byzantine and/or Islamic world. Another approach will trace the extending zone of civilization in this period, from the late antique Persian Sasanian and Mediterranean Roman Empires to outposts stretching from the Arctic to Sub-Saharan Africa. The individual topics may thus vary from broad surveys to regionally and chronologically focused case studies, but will in most cases cover the exchange of economic, social, cultural and political features between central and peripheral regions (e.g., the spread and development of various political systems, trade networks, conversion to Christianity and Islam, Vikings' relations with the larger world). The course will especially focus on introducing theoretical and methodological questions associated with the topics concerned. It may also discuss contemporary public debates that refer to this period. The topics on offer within this course will vary from term to term depending on available staff at the Department. The topics on offer will usually be designed according to the individual lecturer's research interests. Information on topics for the academic year is found under studies on the webpage for the department with academic responsibility.

Learning outcome

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome:

Knowledge

The candidate is expected to have attained

• knowledge of the most important developments within the specific topic the course focuses on
• knowledge and understanding of important sources, theoretical approaches, methodological issues and historiographical developments in the field of late antiquity/early middle ages through studying the individual topics offered

Skills

The candidate is expected to

• be able to reason, argue and orientate on chosen topic(s) within the courses thematic scop.
• discuss what place Late Antiquity and the early middle ages have had and should have to research, teach and publicly debate
• reflect orally and in writing on how different sources, theories and methods can be used to acquire knowledge of the specific field

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and/or seminars. Written essay and/or seminar presentations

Compulsory assignments

• X

Recommended previous knowledge

HIST1300/1350 or the equivalent

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

The curriculum for each individual topic is published at the start of the semester, as well as other materials and information published on Blackboard.

Credit reductions