Medieval Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Hanseatic Cities with Dr. Teofilo Ruiz
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Follow the period of Scandinavia from the end of the Viking Age to the Reformation, as we discuss everything from Christianization and the influence of western feudal institutions to the appearance of separate kingdoms with the arrival of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland.
We’ll begin around 1200 AD, as we say farewell to the Viking Age and look to the Christianization of Scandinavia and the emergence of distinct realms. While briefly looking at the political history of each of these realms, often joined by dynastic alliances and by their common culture, this lecture places their social, economic, cultural, and political development within Hansa's broad commercial networks. This league of trading cities, extending from Russia to Norway and Flanders, connected the Baltic and Scandinavian lands to the rest of Europe. We’ll learn how it led to the insertion of Scandinavia into wider European history, discuss how it shaped the emergence of cities, and explore how it created the kind of cultural homogeneity that has been a landmark of Scandinavian societies to this very day.
Led by Dr. Teofilo Ruiz, an expert in Scandinavian history, this conversation will deepen participants’ understanding of Medieval Scandinavia and the emergence of the countries in the region that we know today. Designed to inform curiosity and future travels, this conversation will further our knowledge of this important period for Scandinavian history.
Teo F. Ruiz, PhD is a Cuban-American medieval historian and a Distinguished Research Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama. He is the author of 15 books.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
Dr. Ruiz effectively pulled together the pieces of the development of Scandinavia during the Medieval period, both as a sometimes unified entity and as the individual countries, which make up the Scandinavian region.
As a descendant of Swedish-Finns, I found Dr. Ruiz's presentation to be fascinating on many levels. He highlighted the importance of medieval Scandinavia in expanding trade and settlement throughout a large part of the western world - not just as marauders. Also investigated was the importance and strength of the Lutheran movement in the Scandinavian lands.
Teo thorough and thoughtful research was presented cohesively and in context. Very enjoyable expose. Particularly helpful were the visual aids of the flow maps
Dr. Ruiz is very thorough and very knowledgeable. He had good slides and made the information very interesting. I would listen to another of his talks.
Informative introduction to Medieval Scandinavia.