Viking Summer School- OT

Forwarded the invitation as requested by hosts


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Viking Age Scandinavia – Transformation and Expansion

THE UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS SUMMER SCHOOL 2009 3-12 AUGUST

Study during the summer and meet international lecturers and fellow students!

The University of Aarhus Summer School on Viking Age Scandinavia is an intensive short-session course designed to meet the needs of students interested in a brief but challenging educational experience during the summer.


Teaching takes place in a museum environment and brings together Danish and foreign students and staff. The course is open to BA and MA students in archaeology, history, literature and related disciplines from Denmark and elsewhere, as well as to other foreign students in Denmark and history teachers in secondary schools.

See our website for more information:

http://www.aal.au.dk/en/medieval/studies/summer

Course description:

The Viking Age (c. 800-1050AD) is an essential and distinctive element of the Scandinavian identity. During this period Scandinavians played a decisive role in many parts of Europe, a role which encompassed raids and trade along German, French and Russian rivers; the conquest of England and much of Ireland and Scotland; voyages to the Mediterranean and America; the colonization of Iceland and Greenland, and much more. In this course we shall also examine the story of the Viking homelands (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) which is, strangely, often overlooked. We shall examine the background to the Scandinavian ventures in foreign lands; the development of a unique art, technology, the conversion of the Scandinavians to Christianity, the economy and the founding of its first towns, and the formation of its kingdoms.

This intensive course considers Viking-Age Scandinavia as an interdisciplinary area study, with a focus on archaeology. It includes updates on recent discoveries and debates and comprises lectures and talks by leading Viking scholars, followed by discussions. Subjects include: society; gender; economy and culture; kings and fortresses; the expansion; towns and trade; ships and travel; village communities; rune-stones; weapons and warfare; craft, art and ornament; pagan religion, conversion and early Christianity.

The course also includes ’hands-on’ demonstrations of original artefacts from museum collections including tools, ornament, weapons and objects used in everyday life. Excursions will take participants to some of the most famous monuments of the Viking Age.

For further information and questions about the summer school, applications etc. please contact us at: vikingage@hum.au.dk