READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

LESSON 1: Meaning and Relevance of History to speculate on the cause and effect
of an event (Cantal, Cardinal et.al.)
History
The practice of historical writing is called
 Etymologically, HISTORY (from Greek
historiography, the traditional method in
word Historia, meaning "Knowledge
doing historical research that focus on
acquired by investigation.
gathering of documents from different
 As a discipline, Merriam-Webster
libraries and archives to form a pool of
(2018) defined history as "a
evidence needed in making descriptive or
chronological record of significant
analytical narrative.
events (such as those affecting a
nation or institution), often including Encyclopedia Britannica (2017) shortly defines
an explanation of their causes." it as the writing of history based on the critical
 History is a narration of the events examination of sources, the selection of
which have happened among particular details from the authentic materials
mankind, including an account of the used in those sources, and the synthesis of
rise and fall of the nations, as well as the details into a narrative that stands the test
of other great changes which have of critical examination.
affected the political and social
History is the study of past events.
condition of the human race. John
Anderson, 1876. A Manual of General Historiography is the study of history.
History.
Prehistory
 Hence, scholars who write about
history are called Historians.  Prehistory refers to that period where
 THE WORD HISTORY IS REFFERED information of the past were recorded
USUALLY FOR ACCOUNTS OF in materials other than written
PHENOMENA, SPECIALLY HUMAN documents, which may not be
AFFAIRS IN CHRONOLOGIAL ORDER. understood by a historian.
 There are theories constructed by
historians in investigating history;
a). Factual History
b). Speculative History

Factual History

 PRESENTS READERS THE PLAIN AND

BASIC INFORMATION, THE EVENTS
THAT TOOK PLACE (WHAT), THE TIME
AND DATE WITH WHICH THE EVENT
HAPPENED (WHEN), THE PLACE WITH
WHICH THE EVENT TOOK PLACE, AND Peter N. Stearns in 1998 has published an
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED article with the American Historical
(WHO). Association that enumerated the reasons why
we should study history.
Speculative History
Why study history?
 It goes beyond facts because it is
concerned. about the reasons for 1. History helps us understand people and
which events happened (why), and societies.
the way they happened (how). it tries
 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

2. History helps us understand change and Sarah Morgan Dawson: A Confederate

how the society we live in came to be. Girl's Diary.

3. History contributes to moral understanding. Autobiographies

4. History provides identity  An autobiography is when you write

at story or book about yourself.
Skills that a student may develop in studying
 Example: Nelson Mandela wrote his
history:
autobiography about events in his life
1. The ability to assess evidence. called "Long Walk to Freedom: The
Autobiography of Nelson Mandela.
2. The ability to assess conflicting
This is a primary document because
interpretations.
he wrote his first-hand experiences.
3. Experience in assessing past examples of
Sound Recordings and interviews are
change.
considered primary resources.
LESSON 2: Distinction Between Primary and
 Example 1: During the Great
Secondary Resources
Depression and World War II,
Historical Sources television had not been invented yet.
The people would often sit around the
Sources - an object from the past or testimony radio to listen to President
concerning the past on which historians Roosevelt's war messages. Those
depend in order to create their own depiction radio addresses are considered
of that past. "primary sources." Example 2: During
Primary sources the 2008 election Barack Obama, had
many interviews that were televised.
 Primary sources enable the Those interviews are considered
researcher to get as close as possible primary sources.
to what actually happened during an  These may include original works such
historical event or time period. as letters, legislations, newspaper
 Primary sources are original records articles, diaries, interviews,
of a certain event by people who have government documents, reports,
actually experienced or witnessed it. photographs, literature and other
Diaries and journals creative outputs

Secondary sources
 Example: Anne Frank was a teenager
during World War II. She kept a diary  Secondary sources are written "after
or journal the years before she died in the fact that is, at a later date.
a concentration camp. Her diary was Usually, the author of a secondary
later published as the "Diary of Anne source will have studied the primary
Frank. This is a primary source. sources of an historical period or
Example: Sarah Morgan was young event and will then interpret the
woman during the Civil War. She "evidence" found in these sources.
wrote in her diary or journal what You can think of secondary sources as
happened to her and her family second-hand information.
during the war. This is a primary  These may include researches,
document because it was first hand. textbooks, journals, commentaries,
She wrote it at the time it happened.
 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

biographies, and criticism or reviews facts to questioning and making

of literary and creative works. inferences about the materials.
 To illustrate, if students wish to study
Why use Secondary Sources?
the 1987 Constitution, the primary
sources includes the Record of the Advantages:
1986 Constitutional Commission,
proclamations, speeches of the 48  Secondary sources can provide
representatives who collectively analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or
drafted the current Constitution, and evaluation of the original information.
the text of the Constitution itself. Its  Secondary sources are best for
secondary sources, on the hand, may uncovering background or historical
include textbooks, annotations, and information about a topic and
published opinions about the broadening your understanding of a
Constitution. topic by exposing you to others'
perspectives, interpretations, and
Why use Primary Sources? conclusions.
 Allows the reader to get expert views
Advantages:
of events and often bring together
 Primary sources provide a window multiple primary sources relevant to
into the past-unfiltered access to the the subject matter.
record of artistic, social, scientific and
Disadvantages:
political thought and achievement
during the specific period under  Their reliability and validity are
study, produced by people who lived open to question, and often they
during that period these unique, often do not provide exact information
profoundly personal, documents and  They do not represent first-hand
objects can give a very real sense of knowledge of a subject or event
what it was like to be alive during a  There are countless books,
long-past era. journals, magazine articles and
 Direct contact with the original web pages that attempt to
records and artifacts invites students interpret the past and finding
to explore the content with active and good secondary sources can be an
deeper analysis, and to respond issue.
thoughtfully;
 Critical thinking is developed as LESSON 3: External and Internal Criticism
students probe the context, purpose, Historical Method
meaning, bias, and perspectives in
their analysis of the past.  Historical method refers to the
process of probing primary sources
Disadvantages: that will be used in writing history.
 Primary sources are often incomplete This includes source criticism which
and have little context. Students must studies the external and internal
use prior knowledge and work with validity of sources.
multiple primary sources to find  Historical sources include documents,
patterns artifacts, archaeological sites,
 In analyzing primary sources, students features. oral transmissions, stone
move from concrete observations and inscriptions, paintings, recorded
sounds, images (photographs, motion
 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

picture), and oral history. Even  Paleography

ancient relics and ruins, broadly  Cryptography
speaking, are historical.  DNA technology
 Cartography
Evaluation of Historical Sources
 Radio carbon dating
Credibility
Internal Criticism
 Is defined as "the quality or power of
 It helps the historians determine the
inspiring belief". Credible sources,
credibility of the source. It studies the
therefore, must be reliable sources
content of the source to know its
that provide information that one can
truthfulness. For a source to be valid,
believe to be true.
its content must be reasonable and
Authenticity historically precise. One should now
rely on a data which is not supported
 It refers to the proven fact that
by evidence.
something is legitimate or real.
How it is done?
Provenance
 Historians carefully reads the text of
 Provenance refers to the sources of
the source for context.
information, such as entities and
 Focus on attention on the author or
processes, involved in producing or
creator.
delivering an artifact.
 Situation surrounding its existence.
External Criticism  Intended audience or reader.

 Historians determine the authenticity Internal and External Criticism: Why is it

of sources by examining the date, important?
locale, creator, analysis and integrity
 Use of unverified, falsified, and
of the historical sources.
untruthful historical sources can lead
 These information must be consistent
to equally false conclusions.
with each other.
 Without thorough criticisms of
 It means, for example, that the
historical evidences, historical
materials used in a source must
deception and lies will be highly
match the time and place when it was
probable (possible).
produced.
 To avoid Historical Distortion.
How it is done?

 Appearance of the source.

 Consistency with the historical period
 Medium of the source.
 Quality of the paper and ink used.
 The grammar/handwriting of the
author or creator.

Methods to examine a primary source:

 Linguistics
 Archaeology Numismatics
 Philately