This online certified course provides a clear, universal methodology for conducting genealogical research in any country or archival system. You will learn ethical best practices, evidence-based investigation techniques, and how to use modern genealogical tools to trace family histories across borders. Although archives and procedures differ worldwide, the course equips you with a transferable research framework applicable to any cultural or administrative context.
Welcome to this online course dedicated to genealogy, a discipline that, more than reconstructing lines of ancestry, invites us to understand the complex web of relationships, memories, and identities that make up the human experience. My name is Diana Carvalho, I have a Master’s degree in History and Heritage, and I will accompany you on this intellectual and emotional journey through your family origins.
Genealogy, as a practice and field of knowledge, transcends the mere collection of names or dates. It constitutes a true archaeology of memory, allowing us to interpret documentary traces, oral narratives and genetic traits as living testimonies of continuity and transformation. By investigating our family past, we discover not only our roots, but also the historical, cultural and social processes that shaped the communities from which we descend.
In this course, we propose to explore the universal foundations of genealogical research: its concepts, methods, and sources, as well as the ethical and legal dimensions that frame it in a global perspective. We will also address the main
digital platforms and databases used internationally, reflecting on differences in coverage, the reliability of information, and the contemporary challenges of genealogy in a global context. Finally, we will open a brief window onto genetic genealogy, an emerging field that crosses science and history and broadens our understanding of human origins.
No prior experience is necessary
— just genuine curiosity and a desire to understand the past as a way to interpret the present. May this journey through the family histories of the world allow you to recognise the plurality of identities and celebrate the continuity of memory.
May your journey to your roots be fruitful.
Diana Carvalho
In this module, you will: understand the concept of genealogy and its personal, social, and historical relevance; identify the different motivations for genealogical study (identity, memory, culture, science, citizenship); recognise the role of genealogy as a tool for preserving collective memory and valuing cultural diversity.