" WSU Faculty-Led Scandinavia: The Vikings and Beyond "

The 8th- 11th centuries constitute the roughly 300 years historians have termed 'the Viking Age.’ During this time the peoples of Scandinavia put their cultural imprint on Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Since those early days of Vikings, Scandinavia has developed into modern Western European nations of high living standards, universal healthcare, and a vibrant social and arts scene. In particular, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden are characterized by a highly social and academic consciousness of their common cultural, Viking past and beyond to ancient times. Along with first-hand experiences of contemporary life in the three nations, we will search for remnants of ancient Norse cultures (before and after the Viking age) in museums and sights with the purpose of making connections between present and the past to form a holistic understanding only possible when venturing beyond textbooks. We will arrive in Oslo, sail to Copenhagen, and travel by train to Stockholm. Stay in hostels and hotels. Course requirements include preparatory meetings to conduct research, a travel journal, and a post-travel research paper examining the confluence of Scandinavian art and culture.