Modern History (1850-2020)
The course aims to provide an overview of the most important historical developments in Norwegian and international history from around 1850 until today.
The course is chronologically structured. Political, economic and social changes constitute the three thematic focal points in the course.
The course emphasizes Norwegian and European history, but will place processes and events global contexts. A key approach in reviewing Norwegian history during the period is to see how important international trends and events affected Norwegian conditions.
The course aims to provide an overview of the most important historical developments in Norwegian and international history from around 1850 until today.
The course is chronologically structured. Political, economic and social changes constitute the three thematic focal points in the course.
The course emphasizes Norwegian and European history, but will place processes and events global contexts. A key approach in reviewing Norwegian history during the period is to see how important international trends and events affected Norwegian conditions.
Important topics that are discussed are:
- Norway and the world around 1850.
- The revolutionary wave of 1848 and in its ramifications in Norway and other countries.
- Technological developments, including the "Industrial Revolution", and its demographic, economic, social and ecological consequences with a special focus on Sami history.
- Nationalism and the building processes of the nation state, European expansion and imperialism with a special focus on Sami history.
- The origins and development of Norwegian democracy, notably the breakthrough to full parliamentarianism in 1884, the rise of political parties and general suffrage for both males and women. Growth of the labor movement.
- The two world wars, the upheavals and the human catastrophes of the first half of the 20th century, the Holocaust, and the destruction of the European Jews.
- The political and economic development of the interwar period.
- The Cold War (including major international conflicts).
- Transnational projects of the type European integration, implicitly Norway's relations with unions (1905, 1972 and 1994). The history of the League of Nations and the United Nations.
- Decolonization and the developments of indigenous peoples, which includes the conditions of the Sámi.
- Women's Liberation.
- Social policy and welfare schemes after 1945 and up to the present day, with special focus on the development of the «of the Nordic model - the welfare state
- Economic and cultural globalization. China and Asia challenge the hegemony of the USA and Europe.
Knowledge:
After completing the course, the student should have:
- basic historical knowledge of central political, economic and social-historical topics in recent history after approx. 1850.
- knowledge of different perspectives that are used to explain basic topics in Norwegian and international history after approx. 1850.
- knowledge of connections between Norwegian, European and global history.
- the ability to reflect on how the historical development after 1850 has affected people's lives in relation to topics such as:
- public health and life skills,
- democracy and citizenship,
- sustainable development.
Skills:
- The student must show the ability to discuss historical issues and must be able to draw their own conclusions.
- The student can manage independent written work that meets formal requirements for academic work.
- The student must be able to relate specific topics to major historical contexts and development processes, and to conduct their own academic research based on literature and sources from the curriculum.
General competence:
The student must show the ability
- to familiarize themselves with the relevant academic literature,
- to convey relevant knowledge from the literature,
- and to argue for their own serious thoughts and reflection in written work.
Lectures, colloquia, oral presentations, writing with student peer review, assignments, organised for both net- and campus students.
Students should be prepared to read literature in English in addition to the Norwegian curriculum.
Compulsory assignment: written assignment of about 3 pages, comprises 0/100 of the grade. Graded pass/no pass.
Compulsory participation in seminars or colloquia, comprises 0/100 of the grade. Graded approved/not approved.
School Exam. Graded A-F.
The exam can be answered in either Norwegian or English.
