Bosnia's Long Road to Peace

Photography by Sara Terry, 2006

“Bosnia's Long Road to Peace” Lesson Plan

Resources for this lesson:

The five images selected here follow the sentiments Sara Terry expressed in her foreword to the second volume of "War is Only Half the Story." Terry writes, “For me, the stories of aftermath are the stories of what it means to be human—in contrast to the stories of war, which all too often are the sad summary of what it means to be inhuman. . . I believe that what we hold up in our culture—the stories we tell ourselves — are in fact the people we become. If we shine a light on conflict, but neglect the stories of recovery and struggle, what grows?” As you view these photographs, keep this idea in mind and take note of the signs of humanity that appear in Sara Terry’s images.

A Muslim widow examines body bags containing the remains of recently exhumed victims of the 1992 “ethnic cleansing” campaign waged by Serbs against their Muslim neighbors (July 2001). Exhumations of mass graves began in 1996 and are expected to last

A Muslim widow examines body bags containing the remains of recently exhumed victims of the 1992 “ethnic cleansing” campaign waged by Serbs against their Muslim neighbors (July 2001). Exhumations of mass graves began in 1996 and are expected to last for many years. Nearly 30,000 Muslims—most civilians—were listed as missing at the end of the war.

One of Mostar’s legendary jumpers throws himself from the town’s famed bridge, more than 80 feet high. Eleven years after the bridge was destroyed during the war, the rebuilt structure was opened to the public following a ceremony that drew foreign o

One of Mostar’s legendary jumpers throws himself from the town’s famed bridge, more than 80 feet high. Eleven years after the bridge was destroyed during the war, the rebuilt structure was opened to the public following a ceremony that drew foreign officials. Local divers wasted no time returning to one of their favorite pastimes.

Muslim widows are seen here during the prayer for the dead offered at the groundbreaking of a memorial site for the 7,000 to 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces in 1995.

Muslim widows are seen here during the prayer for the dead offered at the groundbreaking of a memorial site for the 7,000 to 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces in 1995.

A roadside vendor in Bosnia, hoping to attract passing drivers, offers goldfish for sale.

A roadside vendor in Bosnia, hoping to attract passing drivers, offers goldfish for sale.

Laser-engraved headstones show images of Bosnian Serb soldiers who were killed during the war. The cemetery is in Visegrad, in eastern Bosnia, a town where some 2,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serbs in the spring of 1992. Eight years after t

Laser-engraved headstones show images of Bosnian Serb soldiers who were killed during the war. The cemetery is in Visegrad, in eastern Bosnia, a town where some 2,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serbs in the spring of 1992. Eight years after the end of the war, the former Muslim-majority town remains overwhelmingly Serb.

Related Resources

 Aftermath by Sara Terry & Lawrence Wechsler

Love Thy Neighbor: A Story of War by Peter Maas

Blood and Vengeance by Chuck Sudetic

The Serbs by Tim Judah

My War Gone By, I Miss It So by Andrew Lloyd

Bosnia: A Short History by Noel Malcolm

Endgame by David Rohde