Culture and Society from Ancient Times until 1600, 20 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Bachelor´s Programme in Humanities

Entry requirements

and completed An Introductory Course to the Humanities.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should have acquired
- knowledge of the development of western culture and its interactive relation to the surrounding world during the period up to the year 1600,
- ability to analyse cultural and social phenomena and processes during the period up to the year 1600,
- ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate fictional texts, images, objects of art and buildings in their historical and aesthetic context,
- understanding of what a critical and analytical approach means, and be able to apply this on interpretations and explanations relevant to the period up to the year 1600,
- understanding of how choices of perspective based on class, gender and diversity, influence our understanding of an era.

Course content

Philosophy, 3.5 HE credits: This module provides an overview of the history of philosophy from the Classical Antiquity until the renaissance. The Greek period is studied more extensively than the later periods. The studies do not focus only on moral-philosophical problems but also their background in conception of the world.

History, 6 HE credits: This module contains a general study of events and social progress in a global perspective from prehistoric times until the 16th century. The fundamental features of the history of the Nordic countries from their earliest period are covered with an emphasis on the development in Sweden.

Art History and Visual Communication, 6 HE credits: This module covers aspects of the earliest cultural manifestations in the West. Images, objects of art and buildings from the antique state formation around the Mediterranean and in the Europe of the Middle Ages and the renaissance are studied and analysed more extensively.

Literature, 4.5 HE credits: This module examines the concepts of history of literature and the literary canon, and provides an overview of the most important periods, movements, theories and genres in the western history of literature from its earliest times until 1600.

Teaching and working methods

The studies are carried out full-time and consist primarily of independent literature studies. The course also contains lectures and seminars. Seminars and group work are prepared individually or in groups.

Examination

The course is examined through written examination, take-home examinations or continuous written assignments. The modules in philosophy, history, art history and visual communication as well as comparative literature are examined separately. In addition, active compulsory participation in the seminars is included in the examination of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department