The construction of Europe : history, memory and myth of Europeanness over 1000 years

Abstract

Catalogue of an exhibition showing 47 different digital documents from 22 archives from 9 countries to tell micro-stories that shaped Europe. The exhibition covers work-related migration, war-related migration and political uprising, turmoil and persecution. This exhibition tells the story of Europe along with its construction as a concept, that has changed over time. Created and shaped by the people who lived there, it also provides a collective identity for its inhabitants. This exhibition, built on documents grouped into 4 ‘pillars’, examines the common history of Europe under the following headings. 1: The Spirit of Europe. Europe represents an intellectual heritage: steps, writings, life-works and trends in science, education and the arts, and their intellectual effects that go beyond the historical eras. 2: The Diversity of Europe. Europe has always been characterised by cultural, religious, ethnic and national diversity. A failure to recognise this has been the cause of many tragedies, crimes committed by Europeans against Europeans. 3: The Multiple Faces of Christianity. The history of Christianity in Europe, as it interacted with other religions and cultures, illustrates the diversity of beliefs that helped shape Europeanism. This story in itself can symbolize the diversity of European history as well: intolerance and tolerance, power or total rejection of power. 4: The Heritage of Enlightenment. The intellectual heritage of the Enlightenment is a Europe that is open and democratic, putting diversity at the heart of Europeanism. Europe is history, tradition, a collective memory. It is not indifferent to how we remember historical events, presenting the tragic moments as well. This exhibition would like to show such a construction of Europeanism that today anybody – regardless of birth, origin, nationality, religion – can identify with, taking her on and considering her own identities as part of Europeanism as well. The documents of the exhibition were collected and arranged side by side by the staff of archives of European countries, according to the aspects and topics that they considered as most important. Such a collective work can give an idea of what Europeans, this time archivists and historians, may think together about Europeanness. However, the selected documents do not only testify the history of Europe, but hopefully they also provide an opportunity for the visitor of the exhibition or the reader of the catalogue to create their own image of Europe and European history.