The Meaning of History, The Limitation of Historical Knowledge, History as the Subjective Process of Re-creation HISTORY • Greek word “historia” which means learning by inquiry • is referred usually for accounts of phenomena, especially human affairs in chronological order. •deals with the study of past events. • Historians seek to understand the present by examining what went before • Historians undertake historical research to come up with meaningful and organized rebuilding of the past. • salient feature of the historical writing is the facility to give meaning and impact value to a group of people about their past. 1. FACTUAL HISTORY • presents readers the plain and basic information vis-a vis the events that took place (what), the time and date which the events happened (when), the place with which the events took place, and the people that were involved (who). 2. SPECULATIVE HISTORY • goes beyond facts because it is concerned about the reasons for which events happened (why), and the way they happened (how). • speculate cause and effect of an event THE LIMITATION OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE •The incompleteness of records has limited man’s knowledge of history. • The whole history of the past (called history-as-actuality) can be known to a historian only through the surviving records (history-as-record), and most historyas-record is only a tiny part of the whole phenomenon. • Historians study the record or evidences that survived the time. • They tell history from what they understood as a credible part of the record. • However, their claims may remain variable as can be historical records that could be discovered, which may affirm or refute those that they have already presented. – “incompleteness” of the “object” historians study History as the Subjective Process of Re-creation • Historians strive to restore the total past of mankind. • History becomes only that part of the human past which can be meaningfully reconstructed from the available records and from inferences regarding their setting. AIM OF THE HISTORIAN • Verisimilitude –Truth –Authenticity – plausibility HISTORICAL METHOD • the process of critically examining and analysing the records and survivals of the past HISTORIOGRAPHY •Imaginative reconstruction of the past from the data derived by that process • the practice of historical writing • the traditional method in doing historical research that focus on gathering documents from different libraries and archives to form pool of evidence needed in making a descriptive or analytical narrative. • the modern historical writing does not only include examination of documents but also the use of research methods from related areas of study such as archeology and geography. • Historical analysis is also an important element of historical method • Historians: – select the subject to investigate – collect probable sources of information on the subject – extract credible “particulars” from the sources HISTORY AS RECONSTRUCTION • The historian is many times removed from the events under investigation • Historians rely on surviving records • “Only a part of what was observed in the past was remembered by those who observed it; • Only a part of what was remembered was recorded; • Only a part of what was recorded has survived; • Only a part of what has survived has come to the historian’s attention.” -Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History • “Only a part of what is credible has been grasped, and only a part of what has been grasped can be expounded or narrated by the historian.” -Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History HISTORICAL METHOD? • Historians have to verify sources, to date them, locate their place of origin and identify their intended functions HISTORICAL METHOD? • The process of critically examining and analyzing the records and survivals of the past HISTORICAL SOURCES • Sources - an object from the past or testimony concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own depiction of that past. • Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an Introduction to Historical Method - Tangible remains of the past Sources WRITTEN SOURCES • Published materials - Books, magazines, journals, - Travelogue - Transcription of speech • Manuscript [any handwritten or typed record that has not been printed] - Archival materials - Memoirs, diary NON-WRITTEN SOURCES • Oral history • Artifact • Ruins • Fossils • Art works • Video recordings • Audio recordings WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES? • Testimony of an eyewitness • A primary source must have been produced by a contemporary of the event it narrates • A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. • These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. • Primary sources are characterized by their content, regardless of whether they are available in original format, in microfilm/microfiche, in digital format, or in published format. FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES 1. Written sources 2. Images 3. Artifacts 4. Oral testimony WHAT ARE SECONDARY SOURCES? • A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. • Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Examples: - History textbook Printed materials (serials, periodicals which interprets previous research) PRACTICAL EXAMPLE Topic: Tejeros Convention account condary Source: Teodoro Agoncillo’s Revolt of the Masses WHAT IS HISTORICAL CRITICISM? • In order for a source to be used as evidence in history, basic matters about its form and content must be settled WHAT IS EXTERNAL CRITICISM? • The problem of authenticity • To spot fabricated, forged, faked documents • To distinguish misrepresentation a hoax or TESTS OF AUTHENTICITY • Determine the date of the document to see whether they are anachronistic - e.g. pencils did not exist before the 16th Century • Determine the author • Anachronistic style e.g. idiom, ortography, punctuation • Anachronistic reference to events - e.g. too early, too late, too remote • Provenance or custody - e.g. determines its genuineness CONTENT ANALYSIS - a systematic evaluation of the primary source be it a text, painting, caricature, and /or speech that in the process students could develop and present an argument based on their own understanding of the evidences from their readings. - The students will identify pertinent information from the text/ document and explain its importance to their understanding of history in the Philippine setting. CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS - considers specifically the time, place and situation when the primary source was written. - The analysis as well includes the author’s background, authority on the subject, and intent perceptible, and its relevance and meaning to people and society today.
