Overview of Historiography

Overview of Historiography

• Historiography involves various interpretations influenced by historians' personal views, socio-political contexts, and methodologies.
• The availability of sources and the questions historians pose also shape historical narratives.

Schools of Historiography

• Historicists

  • Pioneered by von Ranke in the late 19th century.
  • Advocates for a scientific approach to primary sources for historical reconstruction.
  • Believes in the power of Free Will to shape history, allowing people to learn from the past.
  • Complemented by Positivism, emphasizing accurate source use for clear history depiction.

• Accidentalist

  • Focuses on the role of accidents as driving forces behind historical events.
  • Explores the reasons for events rather than just the events themselves.

• Intentionalist

  • Highlights the significance of intentions and personalities of key individuals.
  • Considers these factors as vital to understanding historical changes.

• Hegelian

  • Views history as a progression towards freedom, driven by intellectual movements and ideas.
  • Emphasizes the importance of ideas in historical changes.

• Marxist

  • Karl Marx introduced statistical analysis to argue that history is shaped by class exploitation and conflict.
  • Stresses economic forces as primary drivers of historical change.

• Structuralist

  • Believes political and military structures significantly influence history.
  • Focuses on the context created by these existing structures in historical events.

• Annales

  • Emphasizes social history and long-term trends, often using quantitative methods.
  • Prioritizes geography, ideologies, and worldviews of common people over traditional political history.

• Post-Modernist

  • Emerged in the late 20th century, influenced by Foucault’s critique of source reliability.
  • Asserts that all historical interpretations are valid and acknowledges the inherent bias in sources.

Pantayong Pananaw

• A Filipino historiographical approach termed “A For-Us Perspective.”
• Developed as a response to Western-influenced historical narratives.
• Highlights the role of language as a communicative and cognitive tool in shaping historical discourse.
• Recognizes language barriers as a “Great Cultural Divide,” hindering cultural and intellectual development.
• Aligns with Nelson Mandela’s belief in the emotional connection facilitated by native languages.

Bagong Kasaysayan

• Uses methodologies grounded in indigenous conceptions of history, referring to history as "salaysay na may saysay."
• Focuses on the significance and relevance of historical events for community understanding, enhancing the meaning of “saysay.”

Explore the various schools of historiography, including Historicists, Accidentalists, and Intentionalists. Learn how personal views and socio-political contexts shape historical interpretations. Discover the role of sources and the questions posed by historians in crafting narratives.