Abstract

Heritage, as an area of research and learning, often deals with difficult historical questions, due to the strong emotions and political commitments that are often at stake. In this, it poses particular challenges for teachers, museum educators and the publics they serve. Guided by a shared focus on these “sensitive pasts,” the contributors to this volume draw on new theoretical and empirical research to provide valuable insights into heritage pedagogy. Together they demonstrate the potential of heritage as a historical-educational domain that transcends myopic patriotism, parochialism and simplistic relativism, helping to enhance critical and sophisticated historical thinking.

Carla van Boxtel is Professor of History Education at the Research Institute of Child Development and Education and the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies, University of Amsterdam. She is also director of the Dutch Center for Social Studies Education.

Maria Grever is Professor of Theory and Methodology of History, and director of the Center for Historical Culture, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She has led several research projects; currently she leads “War! Popular Culture and European Heritage of Major Armed Conflicts.”

Stephan Klein is a lecturer/researcher of history teaching and historical culture at ICLON, Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching. He led ‘Slave Trade in the Atlantic World’ (www.atlanticslavetrade.eu), an education project based on a dynamic approach to heritage studies.