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Chapter 1-Introduction in History (Reading in Philippine
History)
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (University of Caloocan City)
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY
for someone who studies history, it teaches the student
to be critical in the lessons of history presented to him.
I. History
“HISTORIA” Greek word which means “knowledge
acquired through inquiry or interview”
History’s objective is the past, the events that
happened in the past, and the causes of such events.
Roles of History
- account of the past of a person or a group of people
through written documents and historical events
“No document, no history” – traditional historian
mantra. Unless a written document can prove certain
historical event, then it cannot be considered as
historical event.
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states use history to unite a nation
lessons from the past can be used to make
sense of the present
learning of past mistakes can help people to
not repeat them
II. Issue of History: accusation that the history is
always written by victors (winners).
Definition:
- study of the past
- could be define as happening or a series of
happenings; It is a record of the past made available
for the present. It is also a field of study which traces
man's development
- everything that has been recorded or occurred from
the beginning of time to the last instant
- documented record of man and his society
- a study of man and his achievements from the
beginning of written records to the present. It can be
defined as everything that has happened or occurred
from the beginning of the time to the last instant
this connotes that the narrative of the past is always
written from the bias of the powerful and the more
dominant player.
For instance, the history of the second world war in the
Philippines always depicts the United States as the
hero and the Imperial Japanese Army as the
oppressors. Filipinos who collaborated with the
Japanese were lumped in the category of traitors or
collaborators. However, a mere thorough historical
investigation will reveal a more nuanced (delicate)
account of the history of that period instead of a
simplified narrative as a story of hero versus villain
III. History and Historian
- in social history, it a record of events showing the
evolution of man and his society from the earliest and
from the age of barbarism to what he is today.
Historian is a person of his own who is influenced by his
own context, environment, ideology, education and
influences, among others.
- records the past showing man's development and
improvement throughout the ages. It also shows how
man met his various challenges through time
“Facts cannot speak for themselves”
Question: Does a mere record or collection of events
is also History?
Answer: No. This is just called chronology and is not
different from a logbook of activities kept by security
guard.
To be considered as History, it must be a documented
record of events that traces the development, rise and
fall or rebirth of a persons, society, community or
country
History vs. Historiography
Historiography
- it is the history of the history
- the objective is history itself
for example, how was a certain historical text written?
Who wrote it? What was the context of publication?
What particular historical method was employed? What
were the sources used? This question can be answered
by historiography.
Let’s the students have a better understanding of
history. They do not only get to learn historical facts,
but they are also provided with the understanding of
the facts and the historian's contexts. The importance:
historian's job is not just to seek historical evidences
and facts but also to interpret these facts. It is the job
of the historian to give meaning to these facts and
organize them into timeline, establish causes, and
write history. In that sense, his interpretation of the
historical facts is affected by his context and
circumstances. His subjectivity will inevitably influence
the process of his historical research: the methodology
that he will use, the facts that he shall select and deem
relevant, his interpretation, and even the form of his
writings. Thus, in one way or another, History is
always Subjective.
Historical research requires rigor. Despite the facts
that historians cannot ascertain absolute objectivity,
the Study of History remains scientific because the
rigor of research and methodology that historian
employ.
Historical methodology comprises certain technique
and rules that historian follows in order to properly
utilize sources and historical evidences in writing
history.
HISTORICAL METHODOLOGY:
certain rules apply in cases of conflicting accounts in
different sources, and how to properly treat eyewitness
accounts and oral sources as valid historical evidence.
In doing so, historical claims done by historians and the
arguments that they forward in their historical writings,
while they may be influence by historian inclinations,
can still be validated by using reliable evidence
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and employing correct and meticulous historical
methodology.
For example, if a historian chooses to use oral account
as his data in studying ethnic history of the Ifugao in
the Cordillera during the American occupation, he
needs to validate the claims of his informant through
comparing and corroborating it with written
sources. While bias is inevitable, the historian can
balance this out by relying to evidence that back up his
claim. In this sense, the historian need not let his bias
blind his judgment and such bias are only acceptable if
he maintains his rigor as a researcher.
Considered secondary sources are:
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IV. Sources of History
The Study of History is a relentless search for the truth.
This truth is about the event of the past which are
contained in their sources. In the study of history
sources are always important. Sources are where the
information come from. In a technical sense the source
of historical information is the document.
A document is a written material that says about a
historical event. The document can be narration, a
copy of speech, a letter, a receipt, an eyewitness
account or a book. These are only some of the sources
of history.
UNWRITTEN
SOURCES
AUTHORITATIVE
2. Secondary Sources are made by individuals who
were not direct participants to the event or people who
got the information from somebody else or from
primary source. Digested information or information
derived from primary sources are considered
secondary sources.
BUT
CAN
BE
Some sources are not written but can authoritative.
These are relics, memorabilia, pictures, drawings,
sketches, fossils and remains. There are sources who
are living individuals. They are called eyewitnesses
if they were present when the event happened. When
use in historical research they are referred to as
respondents or informants.
In the terminology of Philippine Historiography,
historical sources are called Batis. In Philippine
Historiography, it means the source of Historical
information. Since this is the originator of the
information, it is considered an authoritative source as
a primary source of historical information.
Textbooks
Encyclopedia entries
Magazine articles about a topic
Teachers' report on student behavior as
reported too school counselors
Reports from a person talking about the
subject matter.
3. There is another source (considered to be Tertiary
source) and these are called General references. It
helps point to the reader to a primary or secondary
source
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One example of a tertiary source is the
information found in the Card Catalogue
about a book or document.
Abstract of books, theses and dissertation
are also general references and therefore
considered general references.
Incomplete information in the Internet is
called stubs are also considered general
reference.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCE:
1. Primary source materials are considered more
authoritative than secondary source materials because
they contain information that directly discusses the
subject matter.
2. A primary source materials becomes even more
important when its origin is closer to the historical
event and the information contained therein can be
considered as pure and untainted.
V. TYPES OF HISTORICAL SOURCES
3. Another factor that makes a primary materials
authoritative and credible is when it is made by person
who were actual eyewitnesses to the event or were
to principal participants.
There are basically two Types of Historical Sources:
CONTEMPORARY SOURCE MATERIALS
1. The first type is called Primary Source - primary
sources are materials which directly point or discusses
the subject matter.
Historical sources can be classified according to age.
Contemporary source materials are documents which
are of recent vintage or origin. It concerns events
that are current or very recent. The recentness of
source document can be from the present to up to 35
to 49 years. Often contemporary documents are stored
in the records sections of offices or in the private
cabinets. Access to such documents can be authorized
by the concerned individuals or by a court.
Examples of Primary Source are
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Autobiographies
Speeches
Essay by person expressing his own view
Receipts
Letters of the editor expressing the writer's
view
Laws, ordinances, letters of Instructions.
Decrees
Newspaper articles reporting directly about
the event
Diaries and journals
Reports, Letters, Editorials, Transcript of
Records
Eyewitness accounts
Books which are of recent publication and books that
have been either reprinted or republished as updated
editions, on the other hand are placed on the shelves
of libraries for circulation. Included here are textbooks,
coffee table books and manuals which are products of
specialized research. Other examples of contemporary
source materials are brochure and souvenir programs
of fiestas and other events. Some libraries like the
National Library of the Philippines keep a special
section which the brochures and souvenir programs
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were stored in special boxes called vertical files.
Newspaper & magazines are maintained in a special
section of large libraries, the important role of
Newspapers is that they report the events as they
happened. Magazines on the other hand discuss topics
& event in a more detailed manner. Magazines &
Newspapers contained eyewitness accounts which
makes them primary source materials.
APPRECIATING HISTORICAL SOURCES
There are two processes that will help a person analyze
the importance of historical information in a document.
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2.
The first process is called External criticism.
The second process is known as Internal
criticism.
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hundred Spartans warriors led King Leonidas at
the Battle of Thermopylae.
A metaphor i.e., "The natives fighting the
British died like beasts, gnawing at the
bayonets" (from the diary of Sir William Draper,
1762).
A simile, the sand here has a color of bran
(Apolinario Mabini, letters describing the beach
of Guam, 1901).
Is the document suffering from hindsight? A
hindsight is a historical error in which the past
is judged from the standards or perspectives of
the present. For example, the height of Rizal
was said to be 4 feet, eleven inches. The height
is short for present standards but it was rather
average if true by 19th century standards.
EXTERNAL CRITICISM
Examines if the document is genuine. It studies who
made the document and when did he do it. Was the
author living when he made the document? What
accounts for his preservations? i.e., why did it remain
as if it is still just newly-written when it was created a
century ago?
Many documents have been proven as forgeries. The
best example of forgery in Philippine History is the
code of Kalantiaw Code which was proven to be a
20th century hoax.
Other question in using external criticism would be: For
what purpose was the document written? A document
written several decades after the historical events may
raise some doubts. It also raises question of validity
and reliability.
One such example would be the different versions of
the Cry of Balintawak or Pugadlawin. Some
accounts were written up to 70 years after the event.
It is concerned with determining the nature or
authenticity of the document itself, Internal Criticism
according to Frankel and Wallen (2010, p. 539) is
concerned with what the document says.
INTERNAL CRITICISM:
Once the reader is convinced that the document is
genuine, he may proceed to the second process called
Internal Criticism. It is the method of determining
whether the contents of historical information are
accurate.
QUESTIONS RAISED IN INTERNAL CRITICISM:
Is it likely that what author says happen really did
happen? What if it is just a hyperbole? A metaphor? A
simile? Would people at the time were behaved as they
were portrayed? Are the data presented reasonable?
Was the author competent to describe the event? Are
the events reasonable as it happened? Is the document
suffering from hindsight? Does the language of the
document show any sign of bias? Does another version
of the document exist? etc.
Illustrations…
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A hyperbole is an exaggeration. An example
of historical hyperbole would be an account
that there were million Persian faced by three
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