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The Viking Age: People, places, things - ARC00027M

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Steve Ashby
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2018-19

Module summary

This module provides an introduction to the archaeology of Viking-Age Europe, with a particular focus on material culture and what we can learn from it. Using case studies from across Britain, Ireland, northern Europe, and the North Atlantic,it uses this context to ask questions about how we write narrative from archaeological evidence.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching cycle
A Autumn Term 2018-19

Module aims

This course aims to survey the impact of the early medieval Scandinavian diaspora, on both the Viking homelands and the many places the so-called Vikings explored, exploited and settled. In so doing it also explores the sources for study of this period, the methods of interdisciplinary research and the themes of lasting interest to modern scholarship. It is intended to illustrate how the Viking Age encapsulates a critical watershed in Old World social, political and economic (pre) history.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

  • an understanding of the chronology and political geography of Viking Age Europe,
  • an awareness of the diversity of sources used by scholars of this period and of the relative merits of these sources, and
  • knowledge of the broad social and economic developments that transformed Northern Europe in the centuries around AD 1000.

Academic and graduate skills

  • Development of transferable skills in small group work and oral presentations

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Coursework - The Vikings		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Coursework - The Vikings		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Timing of written and verbal feedback is published on our deadlines pages:

Formative assessment

Summative assessment

Indicative reading

Reading lists are published to the module web pages or VLE.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.