Introduction to History

What is History?

• History is knowledge or information obtained from inquiry or investigation, eventually becoming related to the past
• Key figures like Ibn Khaldun (Al Muqaddimah, 1377) and Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1776) have contributed to historical understanding
• History describes mankind's achievements, failings, and conflicts

Two Academic Definitions

• History is a narrative about the past, focusing on the most relevant aspects
• It encompasses time, place, and people
• It's interpretative, not fixed, and open to revision

Historical Definitions

• History is a scientific, objective, and empirical discipline
• It's also highly subjective, leading to varying interpretations
• Selecting appropriate topics and sources, defining a historical period, and understanding the historian's perspective are key considerations

Historical Sources

• Historians rely on historical sources to reconstruct past events
• Written sources like books, articles, and newspapers, and non-written archaeological items are used
• Primary sources directly relate to the event, while secondary sources interpret them

Historical Criticism

• Historians analyze sources to determine their reliability:
• External criticism examines the physical attributes and authenticity
• Internal criticism evaluates the source's content and possible biases

Historical Models

• Diagrams illustrate the flow and development of historical events
• Models help summarize the past, offering different perspectives like linear, cyclical, and spiral

The Barangay

• Studying pre-colonial Philippines is challenging due to limited written records
• Historians use artifacts, folklore, oral traditions, and accounts from the Spanish period

The Peopling of the Philippines

• Migration waves (Negritos, Indonesians, and Malays) shaped cultural and physical distinctions among Filipinos
• Theories like Henry Otley Beyer's and Felipe Landa Jocano's explain population patterns

Islamization of the Philippines

• Islam arrived from trade and conversion in various parts of the archipelago
• The establishment of sultanates was part of the process, particularly in Sulu and Mindanao
• Factors like trade, missionaries, and existing societal structures played major roles

The Spanish Period

• The Spanish presence significantly altered the structure and institutions of the Philippines
• Manila was established as a capital, and the encomienda system organized the organization of tax collection

Spanish Colonial Policies

• Manila was chosen as the capital due to its strategic location and population density
• Settlements outside Manila developed as arrabales
• The Spanish organized government structures, including provinces, cities, and villages.
• Different classes, like peninsulares and indios, emerged
• The encomienda system organized tax collection

The Reducción System

• A centralized system to organize tax collection with the move from barangays in the countryside to pueblos (towns)

Collection of Taxes

• Taxation in the Spanish colonies involved the encomienda system, where encomenderos collected taxes on behalf of the government
• Taxes were often paid in cash or kind (agricultural products).
• Certain groups, like the principalia and soldiers, were exempt

The Galleon Trade

• A major economic activity during the Spanish period, connecting Manila and Acapulco
• Galleons transported goods, primarily from Asia to Mexico

Early Years of Christianization

• The introduction of Christianity occurred notably through conversions in the early 16th century
• The spread of Christianity was driven by both the regular clergy (friars, monks, and priests) and the secular clergy (diocesan clergy/priests)

Propaganda Movement

• Ilustrado Filipinos, educated in Europe, advocated for political and social reforms, mainly through the publication of literary works

The Katipunan and the Philippine Revolution of 1896

• The Katipunan (organization of Filipino revolutionaries) aimed for independence.
• It was structured in a secret society within the provinces
• It created conflicts and tensions that led to the Philippine Revolutionary War

The First Philippine Republic and the End of Spanish Colonization

• The Philippines declared independence in 1898
• This period marked the formation of a revolutionary government, internal conflicts, and the eventual US occupation

The Second Phase of the Philippine Revolution

• Filipino revolutionaries pursued the fight for independence after the US took over, engaging in military campaigns
• Filipino-American hostilities escalated into the Philippine-American War

The American Period

• The US established a colonial government in the Philippines
• Infrastructure initiatives, education reforms, and healthcare services were implemented

The Japanese Period

• The Japanese occupied the Philippines during World War II, establishing a new government
• Filipinos engaged in resistance movements
• The economic and social conditions were affected in this period

The Martial Law Years

• Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972
• The period was marked by authoritarian rule, often challenged by numerous Filipinos in a movement eventually resulting in the EDSA People Power Revolution