Abstract:

The present study aims to investigate the place of historical figures in high school history textbooks. The document analysis method was used to analyze the historical figures mentioned in the textbooks. The sample consisted of the history (9-11th grades) and Turkish Republic Revolution History and Kemalism (12th grade) textbooks used in the 2020-2021 academic year.The distribution of historical figures and their roles were evaluated by using the content analysis method. Historical figures with five or more frequencies were divided into three categories as statesmen (leaders), persons of science and culture, and religious figures, based on the areas for which they are known. The study found that the most mentioned historical figure was Prophet Mohammed in the ninth-grade history textbook, Fatih Sultan Mehmed in the tenth-grade history textbook, Abdülhamid II in the eleventh-grade history textbook, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the twelfth-grade Turkish Republic Revolution History and Kemalism textbook. In addition, it was found that most of the mentioned historical figures were in the "statesmen (leaders)" category in all the textbooks. Besides, little emphasis was placed on foreign or female historical figures.

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