Historiography Overview

Study Notes

Overview of Historiography

Historiography involves the interpretation of historical events, influenced by historians' personal views and the socio-political, economic, and cultural contexts.
The approach historians take, the availability of sources, and the questions they pursue also impact historical interpretation.

Major Schools of Historiography

Historicist
- Developed in the late 19th century, pioneered by Leopold von Ranke.
- Emphasizes a scientific method in analyzing primary sources to reconstruct history accurately.
- Believes in the capacity of individuals, through Free Will, to control their destinies.
Accidentalist
- Focuses on the random accidents that lead to historical events.
- Seeks to understand the underlying reasons for occurrences.
Intentionalist
- Recognizes the influence of key individuals and their intentions on historical outcomes.
- Attributes historical change to personal motivations and circumstances.
Hegelian
- Views history as a continuous progression towards freedom.
- Emphasizes the role of intellectual movements and ideas in shaping historical change.
Marxist
- Founded by Karl Marx, utilizes statistical data to argue that economic forces drive history.
- Highlights the conflict and exploitation among social classes as central to historical developments.
Structuralist
- Argues that political and military structures significantly shape historical events.
- Emphasizes the importance of existing power dynamics in analyzing history.
Annales School
- Focuses on social history and long-term trends rather than political or military history.
- Aims to understand the ideologies and mentalities of ordinary people in their historical contexts.
Post-Modernist
- Emerged in the late 20th century influenced by Michel Foucault.
- Contests the notion of definitive historical truths, asserting that all interpretations are valid due to inherent biases in sources.

Philippine Historiography

Traditional Philippine history often aligns with Western perspectives.
Filipino historians have developed "Pantayong Pananaw," translating to "A For-Us Perspective."
This approach emphasizes language's role in shaping discourse and thought, asserting it as crucial for the development of history.

Key Concepts

Free Will: Central to the Historicist viewpoint, suggesting individuals can learn from the past.
Bias in Sources: Post-modernists argue that knowledge of the past is limited and subjective due to incomplete and biased historical sources.
Language and Thought: In the Pantayong Pananaw, language is viewed as both a tool for clarity in thought and a potential barrier.