Swedish Mellanstadiet (Grade 4) History Syllabus

History (Years 4-6)

Humanity's understanding of the past is intertwined with beliefs about the present and perspectives on the future. The past influences our present lives and future choices. Throughout history, individuals have crafted narratives to interpret reality and shape their environments. A historical perspective equips us with tools to understand and shape our present.

Aim

History education aims to develop students' knowledge of historical contexts and foster historical consciousness. This includes recognizing how the past shapes our view of the present and, consequently, our perception of the future. Students develop knowledge of historical conditions, concepts, methods, and the diverse uses of history. They also gain an understanding of similarities and differences in people's living conditions and values across different cultural contexts. The curriculum aims to equip students with a historical frame of reference and a deeper understanding of the present. Students develop a chronological overview of how societies and cultures have been created and transformed throughout history. It encourages curiosity about history and develops knowledge of how we learn about the past through historical sources, places, and people's narratives. Students develop skills in questioning and evaluating sources as a foundation for historical knowledge. The curriculum emphasizes understanding that people in every era should be assessed based on the conditions and values of their time. It fosters understanding of how historical narratives are used in society and everyday life, enabling students to develop diverse perspectives on their own and others' identities, values, and beliefs.

Core Content

• About Ancient Times and the Middle Ages (up to around 1500):
• Settlement of the Nordic region. Key characteristics of the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
• Cultural exchange between the Nordic region and other parts of the world through trade and migration (e.g., Viking explorations and medieval trade systems).
• The development of the Nordic countries.
• Introduction of Christianity in the Nordic region and its impact on cultures and states, including consequences for different people and groups.
• Selected European voyages of discovery, their significance, and consequences.
• Interpreting archaeological finds (e.g., coins and artifacts) to understand cultural encounters and differences in living conditions.
• The Nordic Area and the Baltic Sea Region, Sweden (around 1500-1700):
• The Nordic area and the Baltic Sea region's participation in global exchange (e.g., trade, language, culture).
• The emergence and organization of the Swedish state.
• Sweden's Baltic Kingdom: reasons for its existence and impact on people around the Baltic Sea. Migration within and to/from Sweden.
• The Reformation and its consequences for Sweden and Europe.
• Using historical sources (e.g., letters and documents) to understand differences in living conditions.
• Increased Exchange and the Transformation of Agriculture (around 1700-1850):
• Global economic and cultural exchange involving Sweden and the Nordic region (e.g., iron export, travel to Asia).
• Transformation of agriculture and its impact on people.
• Significant population growth, its causes, and consequences.
• The development of parliamentarianism, the party system, and new laws in Sweden.
• Using historical sources (e.g., diaries and archives) to understand Swedish history and differences in living conditions.
• How History and Historical Concepts Are Used:
• Interpreting the past through present-day traditions, names, language, buildings, towns, and borders.
• Analyzing different representations of historical figures and events across various interpretations and time periods.
• Understanding and applying historical concepts: change, similarities and differences, chronology, cause and consequence, sources and interpretation.
• Historical concepts of time (e.g., the Viking Age, the Middle Ages, Sweden as a great power, the Age of Liberty) and different perspectives on their significance.

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