OUR MISSION
Joint History Books are a groundbreaking collection of historical sources from Southeast European countries, designed to inspire students and empower history teachers with diverse perspectives. Our mission is to equip teachers and students with the tools to analyze and debate national historical narratives, fostering critical thinking not only about the past but also the present and future.
Our materials challenge false narratives, discrimination, and prejudice, helping build more inclusive and democratic societies.
of 13 countries in Southeast Europe.
They span the period form the Ottoman Empire to 2008.
WHAT WE DO
The authors had been led by the idea of collecting and presenting historical sources alongside the perspectives embedded within them, rather than producing a work of historiographical analysis. The intent is illustrative in nature, aimed at fostering critical engagement rather than offering definitive interpretations.
Also, the volumes employ a comparative framework and embrace a multiperspective approach to historical inquiry.
These books were the flagship project of the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe (CDRSEE), a Thessaloniki-based non-governmental organization dedicated to building democratic and non-violent societies. Despite their success, the CDRSEE was forced to cease operations in 2019 due to a lack of financial resources. Thanks to the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB), the books are once again accessible to the public. The EFB recognizes their value not only in history education but also in encouraging dialogue, critical thinking, and a multidimensional approach to education in Southeast Europe.
Hundreds of historians and teachers from Southeast Europe were involved between 1998 and 2016 in the development of these six books, which cover the period from the Ottoman Empire to the 21st century. The first four were published in 11 languages, and the remaining two in four languages. The CDRSEE’s History Education Committee, made up of over 100 historians and 300 contributing teachers from all countries in the
region, identified the sources and content for the books to ensure that historical events are presented from multiple perspectives.
These books are meant to be used and are produced in collaboration with historians and teachers from all the corners of SEE: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey.
A total of 2,000 teachers participated in the project, reaching over 500,000 students with educational materials. The workbooks were translated into 12 languages, making them accessible to a wide audience across the region. In 2017 alone, the books were downloaded 74,000 times, demonstrating their significant impact and widespread use.
LEARN & INSPIRE
CHOOSE THE BOOK
The Ottoman Empire
Nations and States in Southeast Europe
The Balkans Wars
The Second World War
The Cold War
Wars, Divisions, Integration
FOLLOW US
We believe in the importance of making history accessible and engaging for all. Our goal is to spark conversation with younger generations, helping them address historical misconceptions and promoting a more nuanced understanding of history. Follow us on various platforms.
We choose to present our work on social media platforms to reach a new digital audience.
