History 1, basic course

Aim

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• use general knowledge of essential historical contexts and the main features of history through study of political, cultural, economic and social states and processes in Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe and globally,
• use elementary knowledge of the bases in historical method and theory,
• analytically and critically arrange facts into explanatory descriptions in historical contexts,
• demonstrate basic awareness of how choices of perspective based on class, gender and diversity, influence the understanding of our past.

Content

Through comparisons between different productions, different historical views can be illustrated, discussed and questioned. This should facilitate advancement of the knowledge of the developmental phases in history. Nordic history is integrated in the course parts. Economic history is integrated with the other teaching in all modules. The course consists of the following parts:

Theory and method, 3 HE credits

Introduction to theory and method. The module has two aims: One is to give a general orientation in historical view and historical theories, and the other is to provide an overview of historical-scientific research methods.

The Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages, 9 HE credits

General study of events and social progress from a global perspective, for example studies of the earliest high cultures, the antique Greek and Roman societies, the feudal and Christian societies of the early Middle Ages, and the crisis of the feudal society. The fundamental features of the history of the Nordic countries from earliest time are covered with an emphasis on the development in Sweden and particularly in Östergötland.

The Modern Era - 1815, 6 HE credits

General study of events and social progress, for example the emergence of a bureaucratic princely power in the Europe of nation states, the continental and colonial conflicts and the origin of an international system. Ideological and cultural trends are covered, as well as the development in non-European areas. The course contains an advanced study of Sweden, nationally and locally.

The Period After 1815, 12 HE credits

General study of event and social progress from a global perspective, for example the industrial revolution and its aftermath, the population trend, new political outlooks, the emergence of parliamentarism and democracy. The liberation of Latin America and the attempts of international stabilisation, national movements, imperialism, both world wars, fascism and the socialist revolutions in Russia and China, the liberation movements in the Third World, the Cold War, arms races and peace efforts.