HIS2125 ¨C Power, Violence and Politics during the Viking Raids and the Hundred Years¡¯ War

Course content

The popular image of small ruthless bands of heathen Scandinavian marauders attacking defenceless monks is quite far from that of heavily-armoured knights charging across the battlefield under a hail of arrows. But how different were they really? This course will focus on the early (eighth- and ninth-century) viking raids on Britain, Ireland and Francia from Lindisfarne to the Great Army of Alfred¡¯s day; and on the Hundred Years¡¯ War that pitted the kings of France and England against each other in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Rather than treating these two case studies from a strictly military history perspective, though, we will explore the political and social ramifications of violence through broad themes including networks, rulership, gender and cultures of violence. What were the causes and motivations of these conflicts? Who had power and who did not? How were warrior bands and armies organised in these societies? Where did individual and group loyalties lie?

We will see how diverse people interacted with these structures and events: lords and peasants, warriors and clerics, women and men, doers and observers. By considering these two classic periods of medieval violence and political upheaval alongside each other, students will develop an understanding of the questions historians can ask in comparative contexts. They will also engage with relevant primary sources (including texts from chronicles to letters, as well as data-based and digital materials) and thereby gain insight into how and why the histories of conflict have been written.

Learning outcome

On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the main socio-political developments of the early viking raids and the Hundred Years¡¯ War
• Identify and explain key thematic and methodological similarities and differences between the two case contexts
• Engage with different academic opinions on the study of medieval violence and power structures
• Apply appropriate analytical techniques to a range of primary source types, including digital materials
• Formulate and articulate a position on a focused research question within a comparative historical framework

Admission to the course

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Recommended previous knowledge

A background of at least 30 credits in humanities or social sciences.

A good ability to read, write and understand English is required for this course.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with HIS4125 ¨C Power, Violence and Politics during the Viking Raids and the Hundred Years¡¯ War.

Teaching

The course will be taught in twelve 2-hour seminars, plus two 2-hour workshops. It is expected that students will participate actively in seminar discussions and other activities, based on their prepared readings and regular attendance. Some activities will require the use of a laptop, so these should be brought to class.

Compulsory assignments:

• A compulsory primary source analysis (1,5 to 2 pages) based on a source of the student¡¯s choosing and agreed with the instructors. If accepted - subject to possible revision - this will qualify for the final examination.

• All participants will give a short presentation on a piece of research in class.

The primary source analysis may take the form of either (1) a written paper discussing a textual or material source; or (2) a digital analysis¡ªsuch as querying a database to answer specific research questions and generating visualizations of the results; constructing network graphs using information found in documents; or creating maps to evaluate spatial relationships¡ªthat combines documentation of the methods used with a short discussion of the significance of the outcomes. Further information about the source analysis will be given in class.

Examination

The final examination is a term paper comparing an issue across two historical contexts.

• Your paper should not exceed 4500 words, footnotes included. The bibliography is not included in the word count.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.