EUSTORY Academies in 2006: Berlin/Germany
29.07.-05.08.2006
"Looking back into the Present:
Conflicts in the European Past and their Echoes in the Present"
22 award winners of national EUSTORY history competitions joined the EUSTORY Academy that took place from 29 July until 5 August at the wannseeFORUM in Berlin. The students from Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Russia, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Wales wanted to find out about the relevance of history to present times. They asked: how do conflicts that seem to be settled still influence our present? In three groups the participants had a closer look at the following past conflicts:
- Is the skepticism of many English towards the European Union a remnant of the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between England and France?
- To what extend do the divisions of the Polish state since 1772 still today influence the relationship between Russia and Poland?
- Could it be that the skepticism against a Turkish membership in the European Union has its roots in the year 1783 when the Ottoman Empire failed for the second time to conquer Vienna?
With a variety of research methods the students found out about the relevance of the past for the present. Written sources showed how following generations dealt with these historical conflicts. Comparative analysis of history textbooks revealed slight but significant differences in the way how material is presented in European countries. Interviews with people from the countries mentioned above showed what role the historical conflicts play in their countries.
With the results of their research each group developed a media product: a radio broadcast, a video and a newspaper. At the end of the academy, the groups presented the results of their work to the other participants of the EUSTORY Summer Academy. Who would like to know more about the academy will find detailed information on the following websitehttp://www.wannseeforum.de/eustory2006/.
