The project was implemented by bringing together historians, curriculum designers, authors of teaching materials, history teacher trainers, practicing teachers, museum specialists and representatives of NGOs.


It did not aim to tackle the subject exhaustively. Rather it was limited to a number of welldefined specific themes. Each theme had the potential of concerning a maximum number of member states, was already well documented, and, clearly, presented opportunities for demonstrating interaction, convergences and common transformations – or shared histories.

The chosen themes were:

  • The impact of the Industrial Revolution
  • The development of education
  • Human rights as reflected in the history of art
  • Europe and the world

These four themes are amplified in the interactive e-book in broadly two ways: a curriculum based teaching text; and a series of academic papers. Each theme is explored through a number of topics and associated teaching and learning units. The teaching and learning units also provide opportunities for assessment of pupils’ learning

The project highlighted the importance of reaching through history education a shared understanding of history as a multi‐storeyed building which offers the possibility of sharing knowledge, understanding, memories, emotions, attitudes and values. The project drew the attention of educators to the fact that sharing could become an efficient mechanism for integration giving people the possibility of balancing the value of their own cultures with that of others in a wider context.

Sharing could become a basis for an inclusive style of teaching and learning history in multicultural societies which could help pupils with different backgrounds to feel their links to their country of residence, stressing at the same time the special value of social responsibilities. History seen as a shared space could create a basis for solidarity and joint actions in diverse situations, while not underestimating the importance of national identities and knowledge of individual cultural roots.
 

4 thematic seminars

  • Seminar on “Shared Histories in Europe  : The impact of the Industrial Revolution”, Strasbourg, 27-28 October 2011
  • Seminar on “Shared Histories and a History of Education in Europe”, Strasbourg, 8-9 March 2012
  • Seminar on “Human Rights as reflected in the History of Art”, Strasbourg, 7 - 8 November 2012
  • Seminar on “Europe and the World”, Strasbourg, 21-22 March 2013

Find more information in the e-book >>