Introduction to Historical Concepts

Historical Origins:

• History is the study of the past, a chronological record of events, often with explanations for their causes.
• It comes from the Greek word "historia," meaning knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation.
• Historians traditionally believe "no document, no history," meaning written evidence is crucial to verifying historical events.

Historiography:

• Focuses on history itself, examining how historical texts were written, who wrote them, the context of their publication, the methods used, and the sources consulted.

Historian:

• Responsible for producing historical knowledge through continuous research and reinterpretation.

Historical Interpretation:

• Making sense of primary sources and historical documents through content and contextual analysis.

Key Figures in History:

• Herodotus is known as the "Father of History."
• Thucydides is recognized as the "Father of Scientific History." He emphasized the importance of systematic and impartial evidence collection.

Sources of Historical Information:

• Sources are classified as either primary or secondary.

Primary Sources:

• Created at the same time as the event, period, or subject being studied.
• Examples include minutes, photographs, autobiographies, and newspaper articles.

Evaluating Primary Sources:

• Consider the date of production, origin, authorship, basis for creation, original form, and evidential value.

Secondary Sources:

• Produced by authors who rely on primary sources.
• They are the product of historical research and are used by historians for additional information or background research.
• Examples include textbooks, documentaries, and journals.

Writing Historical Narratives:

• Factors to consider include time, bias, intention, and proximity.

External and Internal Criticism:

• These processes help critically evaluate historical documents.

Kinds of Primary Sources:

• There are various categories of primary sources, encompassing different types of evidence.

The Pre-Colonial Period in the Philippines:

• Filipinos had a civilization before the Spanish arrived, influenced by Malay settlers and their environment.
• Many customs and traditions have persisted despite westernization and modernization.
• Examining these customs offers insight into the past.

Pre-Colonial Philippine Society:

• Mode of Dressing: Ornaments made of gold fillings were popular, with tattoos signifying war records.
• Social Classes:
  • Nobles (Datu and their families)
  • Freemen (Maharlika)
  • Dependents (Alipin)
• Status of Women: Women had the right to inherit property, engage in trade, and succeed to chieftainships in the absence of a male heir.
• Marriage Customs:
  • Men were generally monogamous, while their wives were called "asawa" and concubines "friends."
  • Courtship involved paninilbihan.
  • Dowry (bigay-kaya), payments (panghihimuyat, bigay-suso, himaraw, sambon).
  • Final arrangements were made through pamamalae, pamamanhikan, or pamumulungan.
  • Muslim Filipinos had similar customs, including pananalanguni, consultation with parents, and a pegkawing (wedding ceremony).

Pre-Colonial Philippine Politics and Religion:

• Politics:
  • Government systems in place.
  • Laws, legislation, judicial processes, and trial by ordeal.
• Religion:
  • Religious beliefs, burial practices, divination, and magic.

Pre-Colonial Philippine Economics and Culture:

• Economics:
  • Agriculture, livestock, fishing, mining, lumbering, weaving, and trade.
• Culture:
  • Languages, systems of writing, literature, music and dance, and art.