Exkursion
History of Christianity in Iceland and European Entanglements: Networks, Peripheries and Sites of Memory
The topic of this course – which will be taught both online (spring 2026) and on-site in Iceland (summer 2026) – is the history of Christianity in Iceland from a long-term perspective, ranging from the beginning of Christianity in Iceland until the twenty-first century. The course will be restricted to particular scholarly interests that have not received much attention in scholarly discussion on Christianity in Iceland. A) Central to the course is a focus on how the Christian religion developed in Iceland in an active interplay with other regions, most importantly in Europe, but as time passed, also elsewhere. Particular attention will be given to how knowledge about Christianity was transmitted through networks reaching ecclesiastical and educational institutions in Northern Europe. B) Iceland’s position in the landscape of global Christianity – which also has changed over the course of time – will be analysed, particularly in light of the analytical concepts of center and periphery. To a considerable extent, the discussion will be theoretically based in postcolonial frameworks. C) Significant for the course – particularly during its on-site part – will be questions regarding the context of history writing, space, sites of memory, and cultural memory.
The course will be hosted at the University of Iceland. The course coordinator is Haraldur Hreinsson (University of Iceland). Other teachers are Katharina Kunter (University of Helsinki), Stefan Michels (Frankfurt University), and Anna Vind (University of Copenhagen).
Practical considerations
- in four online sessions in the spring of 2026, taking place on January 20, February 17, March 17, and April 21. Detailed informations will follow up soon.
- during a one-week-long study trip to Iceland from June 15-22, 2026, in which the topic of the course will be explored in-depth on-site.
All participants in this course will receive an Erasmus+ scholarship, which is intended to meet travel and housing expenses.
Important: The scholarship will not cover all costs, and participants will be required to cover some costs themselves. During the first half of the course, all participants will stay in Skálholtsbúðir, which can accommodate up to 21 individuals for a fee of 60 EUR per night. In Reykjavík, housing costs will be higher, and students will be required to organize their own accommodation. To obset higher costs in Reykjavík, students will be provided with at least one meal per day as part of the course program in Reykjavík. A detailed financial estimation will be shared with registered/interested students at the earliest point possible.