HIST 177G - Special Topics in Global HistorySemester Hours: 3
Periodically
Studies in periods, countries or special themes in history. Subject and content vary from year to year.
The Vikings
This course concerns the Vikings of Scandinavia, who in their longships - as merchants, pagans, and raiders - explored worlds from Constantinople to Newfoundland. Some of them even reached the Kingdom of Nekor, in Africa. According to myth, they are essentially noble (uncivilized) savages, these people of the North, committeed to war, lacking a system of belief other than that resulting simply from aggression and expansion. But, in fact, however occasionally brutish and violent in their way, they were capitalist traders, and as such ambitious, organized, and worldly - hence the duration and reach of their dominion. And, while averse to Catholicism, faith was not anathema to them. Yet the myths about them - still growing - are no less interesting and revealing than the facts: so both will be subject to investigation. Classes will combine lecture and discussion; and our texts are a combination of fiction and non-fiction, primary and secondary.
Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
Course may be repeated when topics vary and students may register for multiple courses within this numbering scheme. Ordinarily not open to first-year students. (Formerly HIST 177, Special Studies in History.).
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