Teaching History for the Contemporary World: An Introduction

Abstract

History is constantly revised and re-envisioned. How should we teach history to take into account the concerns of our own era? Should history be more than just an interpretation of the past? Should it also be a positive force in the present to create understanding that leads to a better future? This chapter asks whether teaching history comes with added responsibilities, opportunities, difficulties, and challenges if we specifically focus on how we teach the discipline for the contemporary world.