Introduction to History

Learning History

• History is derived from the Greek word "historia," signifying 'inquiry'
• History encompasses knowledge acquired through investigation
• It is the study of humankind's past, including beliefs, desires, practices, and institutions
• History examines the human past as described in written documents
• Aristotle viewed history as a systematic account of natural phenomena, regardless of chronological order

Significance of History

• Studying the past helps understand how we became who we are
• It teaches us to see the world through different perspectives and appreciate diverse cultures
• New perspectives enable critical analysis of the present societal contexts

Historians

• Historians must conduct thorough research
• Historians analyze historical evidence
• Historians present findings to enhance our understanding of the past

Qualifications of a Historian

• Educational background is essential
• Historians need strong research skills
• Critical thinking and analytical skills are vital
• Communication skills are important
• Attention to detail is necessary

Roles of a Historian

• Historians elucidate the past
• They enhance understanding of human experiences and societal evolution
• Historians cultivate critical thinking skills
• They preserve historical knowledge
• They demonstrate history's relevance to contemporary society

Sources

• A source is a point of origin
• It supplies or initiates information and acts as a generative force

Types of Sources

• Sources are categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary
• Classifications reflect the originality and proximity of the source
• This indicates whether the author reports firsthand information or conveys others' experiences

Primary Sources

• They are materials produced by people directly involved in the event
• They are records of events as they initially happened, without interpretation
• People involved are participants or eyewitnesses

Secondary Sources

• Secondary sources are testimonies from non-eyewitnesses
• They analyze or restate primary sources
• They summarize, interpret, reorganize, or add value to a primary source

Tertiary Sources

• Tertiary sources index, abstract, organize, compile, or digest other sources
• Reference materials and textbooks can be tertiary sources
• Their purpose is to list, summarize, or repackage information

Historical Sources

• Historical sources include every kind of evidence from human activities
• These include written and spoken words, landscape shapes, material artifacts, fine arts, photography, and film

Historical Research

• Historiography systematically recaptures the nuances of the past
• It considers the people, meanings, events, and ideas influencing the present

Life History and Biographical Research

• Biographical research is a qualitative approach aligned with social interpretation
• It reconstructs life histories
• It also considers the constitution of meaning based on biographical narratives

Local and Oral History

• Oral history involves direct interviews with witnesses of historical events
• It records their responses and experiences
• It is specific to a geographic area and its evolution

History Through Paintings and Films

• Art provides visual representations of historical events, people, and societies

Pre-Colonial Philippines

• Dr. Henry Otley Beyer founded the Anthropology Department at the University of the Philippines
• Beyer's wave migration theory suggests Filipinos' ancestors arrived in waves

Dawn Man

• Dawn Man was a cave-man type, similar to Java Man and Peking Man
• They existed around 250,000 years ago

Negritos

• The aboriginal pygmy group, the Negritos, arrived 25,000-30,000 years ago via land bridges

Indonesians

• The seafaring, tool-using Indonesians arrived 5,000-6,000 years ago
• They were the first immigrants to reach the Philippines by sea

Malays

• The seafaring, civilized Malays brought the Iron Age culture
• They were the real colonizers in the pre-Hispanic Philippines

Dr. Fritjof Voss

• Dr. Fritjof Voss questioned the land bridge theory
• He said the Philippines was never part of mainland Asia

Earth's Crust Studies

• Earth's crust studies (1964-1967) revealed China's crust doesn't reach the Philippines

Dr. William Henry Scott

• Dr. William Henry Scott stated Palawan and the Calamianes are separate from Borneo
• Sulu Archipelago is not a submerged mountain range
• It consists of exposed edges of ridges from tectonic tilting

Dr. Alfred Wegener

• Dr. Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory
• He said Earth's continents were once a single landmass called Pangaea

Dr. Bailey Willis

• Dr. Bailey Willis proposed the Tectonic Plate Theory
• The Philippines lies at the boundary of the Pacific and Eurasian plates

Plate Collision

• Plate collision and subduction led to the emergence of islands
• This happened through volcanic eruptions and uplifting landmasses

Migrated Groups

• Primitive Man (Java Man/Ubag) was an extinct pygmy from the Late Pleistocene of Luzon
• Negritos came from Mainland Asia via land bridges
• Austronesians & Polynesians were seafarers in the northern Philippines

Indonesian Groups

• Indonesian A from South East Asia were tall with narrow faces
• Indonesian B from Indo-China were large and dark with broad faces

Malays

• Malays brought Islam to the southern Philippines

Pre-Colonial Society

• Lakan was the ruler in ancient Tagalog society
• Maginoo were noble people
• Maharlika were free people
• Alipin were slaves

Visayan Society

• Datu were tribal leaders
• Tumao were royal nobility
• Timawa were free people
• Oripon were slaves

Analyzing Primary Sources

• Criticism involves evaluating historical documents, texts, and artifacts
• Historians determine sources' reliability, authenticity, and accuracy

External Criticism

• External criticism determines the authenticity of a source
• Concerns include whether the document is genuine
• It considers when and where it was created
• It considers who created it and the circumstances
• It looks for physical signs of forgery

Internal Criticism

• Internal criticism evaluates a source's content
• It questions the accuracy of the information
• It asks about the author's intentions and biases
• It examines how the source's context affects interpretation