Lesson 2: Refugees: The Historical Context
IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL:
Learn the origins of the word refugee and how and when the term entered the English language
Understand the origins of early refugee crises
Discover how, if at all, the global community responded to early refugee crises
Directions:
Read through Refugees: The Historical Context Part I or watch and listen to a recorded version of the presentation.
When you are done, reflect on the following question either on your own or in the course reflection journal.
You learned that the word refugee derives from the Latin word fugere which means to flee and the French word refuge which means hiding place. We also learned that the word refugee entered the English language when the English used it to describe the French Protestants who arrived in England to escape persecution. In what ways and to what extent does understanding the origins of the word refugee help you to understand who refugees might be and what their experiences may be like?
Click on the arrows in the lower right corner to view and read through this lesson's presentation at your own pace.
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This is an eBook from the UNHCR. The first part of the book provides an overview of refugees from ancient history to the 1951 Convention on Refugees.
400 Years of Refugee Movement to the UK
This timeline was compiled through a project called "Refugee History". The project was started by scholars as a hub for evidence-based research on refugees. This timeline focuses on the UK, but provides a good overview of refugee crises that have impacted many parts of the world.