GEC 3

Historian's Role and Methodology

• Historians pursue continuous historical knowledge and must adapt to new evidence and developments.
• They produce historical knowledge by interrogating the past through the gathering and interpretation of evidence.
• Historical facts are determined through the historian's insights; objectivity is challenged by context and personal bias.
• Historical methodology involves techniques and rules for selecting and interpreting sources accurately; it's a professional academic discipline subjected to peer scrutiny.

Historical Inquiry and Storytelling

• History revolves around human activities and seeks to explain past events and actions.
• Herodotus is regarded as the "Father of History," establishing history as a field of study, while Thucydides is considered the "Father of Scientific History" for his objective approach.
• Historiography is the study of historical writing and interpretation, helping to better understand past contexts.

Medieval Period and Historical Development

• Christianity and the Church influenced the recording of history, often overshadowing human deeds with divine narratives.
• Positivist philosophy contributed to history being treated as a scientific discipline, advocating for a focus on studying history for its own sake (Historicisim).
• Leopold von Ranke emphasized objective representation of historical facts, which shaped the profession further.

Emergence of Historical Subdisciplines

• The formation of new subdisciplines (e.g., Women’s, Environmental, and Urban History) arose from contemporary issues requiring detailed historical examination.
• Benedetto Croce argued that all history is contemporary, stressing its relevance to present times.
• The Marcos family's revisionist efforts to recast their regime's legacy highlight the impact of historical interpretation and bias.

Historical Sources and Criticism

• Primary sources are firsthand accounts from the period under study, while secondary sources are derived from the analysis of primary materials.
• External criticism validates the authenticity of primary sources through the examination of their material characteristics and context.
• Internal criticism analyzes the content of primary sources, considering their creation circumstances to ensure accurate interpretation.

Debunking Falsifications

• Historians combat false claims through rigorous scrutiny, reaffirming the importance of verifying sources.
• Cases like the Code of Kalantiaw and alleged war exploits of Ferdinand Marcos exemplify errors in historical representation due to unverified sources.

Philippine Historiography and National Identity

• The development of history as a discipline in the Philippines is influenced by various social and political contexts.
• The Katipunan, comprising diverse members, utilized Filipino to foster national identity during the revolution.
• American colonialism reshaped historical narratives, emphasizing perspectives that aligned with U.S interests, labeling the Philippine-American conflict as an "insurrection."

Filipino Nationalist Historiography

• Prominent historians like Teodoro Agoncillo and Renato Constantino shaped a nationalist interpretation of history focused on the Filipino experience.
• Agoncillo's work highlights the Philippine Revolution, while Constantino introduced a progressive, Marxist lens to historical analysis.
• Zeus Salazar's Pantayong Pananaw framework advocates reclaiming history through a perspective centered on the Filipino populace.