tidsskrivning

Tidsskrivning, often translated as "chronicle writing" or "time writing," is a genre of historical writing characterized by its chronological organization of events. It typically presents a year-by-year or event-by-event account of happenings within a specific region, kingdom, or religious community. The primary purpose of tidsskrivning was to preserve a record of significant occurrences, often with a focus on political, military, and religious developments.

The practice of tidsskrivning has roots in various ancient and medieval cultures. Monastic communities, for instance, often maintained chronicles to document the history of their order and the wider world. Royal courts also employed scribes to record important state events, such as births, deaths, coronations, and battles. These chronicles served not only as historical documents but also as tools for legitimizing power and asserting a particular narrative of the past.

Key features of tidsskrivning include its direct and often unadorned style, aiming for factual reporting rather than elaborate literary embellishment. The perspective is generally that of the chronicler or the institution they represent, which can lead to biases. While valuable for historical research, tidsskrivning requires critical analysis to understand its limitations and the context in which it was produced. Modern historiography often uses chronicles as primary sources, cross-referencing them with other evidence to construct a more comprehensive understanding of historical periods.