General provisions

The course is a self-contained course and a programme course within the Master's Programme in Early modern studies.

Entry requirements

Admission to a magister/master programme within the faculty of arts or a bachelor’s degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies), in history studies. Proficiency in English.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

A student who successfully completed the course will be able to:

- overview and summarise the current state of research on strategies for survival in the early modern period,

- describe, compare, and apply different theoretical perspectives and approaches used in the research,

- define research tasks that increase our historical knowledge, and analyse the topic and present the analysis in a concise and understandable way,

- know the different types of primary source material and draw conclusions from this.

Content

The purpose of this course is to let students acquaint themselves with the various ways of supporting oneself that existed in early modern northern Europe, and learn how varying institutional solutions affected people's chances of survival and quality of life. This includes working life, poor relief systems, property law, etc. Throughout the course, attention will be paid to class and gender aspects.

Instruction

The course will consist of a number of seminars and/or tutorials focusing on specific themes and questions. Seminar discussions will be based on mandatory literature list and primary sources. To achieve the learning outcomes, students are assumed to take active part in the seminar discussions partly by prepared contributions regarding literature and sources, partly by constructive responses to the ongoing discussion.

Assessment

Assessment will be based upon performing seminar assignments and writing and presenting a paper. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system. The following grades will be used: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Failed (U).

Other regulations

The course is one of the four compulsory thematic courses which are offered within the maser programme Early modern studies. It is also open to students admitted to a Master programme within the faculty of arts or students that have a Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies), in history studies.