Or: List of documents in the World History Register
Or: World History

In 1992, UNESCO initiated a programme for preserving documents that are considered of universal value for the history of the world and for making these documents accessible. They can literally vary from age-old texts written on clay tablets and papyrus to film, sound recordings and digital files. The project started in 1995 with the publication of the ‘General Guidelines to Safeguard Documentary Heritage’. The second edition was published in 2002.

There is a clear similarity to the procedures for inscription on the World Heritage List. Furthermore, social and cultural significance, and thus also documents of universal significance to mankind, are increasingly important factors in determining inscription on the Cultural World Heritage List.