Welcome to this online course dedicated to Genealogy, a discipline that, more than just 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 the 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