Gripla - 20.12.2009, Blaðsíða 49
SveRRe BAGGe
noRDIC unIQueneSS
In tHe MIDDLe AGeS?
PoLItICAL AnD LIteRARy ASPeCtS
was there a particular nordic civilisation in the Middle Ages? there
are two possible candidates on which such a characterisation might be
based: (1) the unique literary culture of Iceland and (2) “the Scandinavian
model”, with egalitarianism, democracy, welfare and peace. This latter is a
modern phenomenon but may possibly have its origins in earlier periods,
even in the Middle Ages. From this point of view, discussion about the
Scandinavian model may form part of a wider discussion about the unique
ness of Europe, which has also been traced back to the Middle Ages.
Of course, such claims cannot be based on any deep similarity between
medieval and modern society. there is little to suggest that medieval
Europe was a better place to live for the majority of its population than
other, contemporary civilisations or that it was particularly peaceful, egali
tarian or democratic. Claims for a medieval origin of modern, Western
civilisation must therefore be based on marginal differences or “cracks” in
the generally traditional surface that might eventually lead to major chang
es. Proto-capitalism, for example, which was stimulated by the existence of
free cities, competition between a great number of moderately sized and
relatively stable states might be seen as a stimulus to inventions (or at least
the spread of them) and the need for the king or ruler to share his power
with aristocrats and/or burghers might be seen as the origin of modern
democratic theory and practice.1 While nordic civilisation can hardly claim
to be in the forefront of the development of capitalism or industrialisation,
it may have some claims in the field of state formation or possibly democ
racy.
1 Sverre Bagge, “the transformation of europe: the Role of Scandinavia,” Medieval En
counters, eds. j. Arnason and B. Wittrock, (Leiden: Brill, 2004), 131–65.
Gripla XX (2009): 49–76.