Introduction. Memory, narratives and identityHow people recall, transmit and live through historical events

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In this article, we will review a series of studies concerning the impact of sociopolitical events, identity structures and emotional reactions on the creation, transmission, and maintenance of collective memories. These studies reflect on how historical events are remembered, how these memories are mediated by age cohorts and gender. Moreover, processes of globalization have produced a strong cross-cultural consensus in the recall of these events, although the content of what is recalled may be different in diverse groups. Identities and the need to maintain a positive social identity are also crucial in the recall of events. This derives in the existence of different possible memories in victims, members of a victim¿s family or friends, and perpetrators of traumatic events. We will see how these memories have a series of consequences in a person or group¿s values, beliefs and general view of the World.