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Global understandings of history

Are the same versions of history taught to students globally?

Women and men sitting on benches with books in front of them and listening to the teacher.

Painting of teaching at a university in the 14th century by the artist Laurentius de Voltolina. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

As a subject matter, history is often understood as a discipline of the past. However, in reality, an understanding of the past and how it should be conveyed is rarely cohesive.

Disagreements can be rooted in different worldviews, political convictions and perspectives.

Do shared knowledges of history even exist? Is there anything that binds understandings together across cultural, political, religious, social and geographic divides? 


The group investigates how the subject of history is practiced and presented at schools and universities in different parts of the world.

We want to contribute with an in-depth understanding of what the subject of history is today, and whether it is built on a common foundation.


Department of Teacher Education and School Research, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo

Published Nov. 11, 2021 12:14 PM - Last modified Aug. 9, 2022 9:48 AM