Understanding Historical Development and Key Terms

• History is the study of past events and developments.

Historical Development

• Cyclical history views history as a series of repeating cycles based on social processes.
• Linear history suggests history follows a straight path of cause and effect.
• Spiral history proposes that history progresses through stages, developing logarithmically.
• Chaotic history sees history as disordered and unpredictable.
• Eccentric history involves deviations from the norm.

Key Terms

• Eschatology is the study of final destinies.
• "ἱστορία" (historia) is Greek for learning or inquiry, relating to the "past of mankind."
• "Geschichte" is the German word for history.
• "Geschehen" means to happen.

Definitions of History

• History is a chronological record of significant events and the study of past occurrences.
• E.H. Carr defines history as an interaction between the historian and facts, leading to interpretation, the historian essentially shapes history.
• Collingwood: History is the re-enactment of past thoughts in the historian's mind.
• Oakeshott: History is the historian's experience.
• Parsons: History is a selective cognitive and causal system.
• History is the study of social life in the past, focusing on developments, future expectations, and facts.
• Herodotus is considered the father of history.

Elements of History

• Man
• Place
• Period
• Sources (Primary & Secondary)

Sources

• Primary sources are firsthand accounts or evidence from participants or witnesses.
• Written primary sources include newspapers, books, letters, diaries, meeting minutes, and autobiographies.
• Non-written primary sources include photos, tools, interviews, films, music recordings, clothing, kitchenware, bridges, and buildings.
• Secondary sources analyze, assess, or interpret historical events, like books, journal articles, speeches, reviews, research reports, encyclopedias, magazines, and textbooks.

Historical Analysis

• Historical material/data contains essential historical information from various sources.
• The historical method involves collecting, evaluating, validating, and interpreting historical evidence.
• External criticism assesses authenticity, while internal criticism determines credibility and accuracy.

Kinds of History

• Factual history presents information about the origin of events.
• Speculative history seeks truth and explanations for the origins of events.

Theories of History

• Great-God Theory (St. Augustine): History has a divine origin.
• Great-Mind Theory (Plato): Brilliant intellects drive human advancement.
• Great-Man Theory (August Comte): Influential individuals shape history.
• Great-People Theory (Arnold Toynbee): Elite groups or nations make history.
• Human Nature Theory (Socrates): Essential human nature drives history.

Kasaysayan

• Kasaysayan involves narrative or salaysay, relevance, and importance.
• Zeus Salazar defines it as a relevant narrative for the people being narrated.

Effective Historical Thinking

• Sensitivity to multiple causation.
• Sensitivity to context.
• Awareness of the interplay of continuity and change.

Importance of Studying History

• Helps us understand people and societies.
• Helps us understand change and societal evolution.
• Contributes to moral understanding.
• Provides identity.
• Essential for good citizenship.

Why Study History?

• To learn about the past and understand challenges and achievements.
• To understand the present through insights from the past.
• To appreciate heritage through historical knowledge.

Additional Points

• To broaden perspective by introducing different cultures and societies.
• To acquire a background for critical thinking, enhancing the ability to evaluate and address current concerns.

Context

• Refers to conditions forming the setting, including political, social, ideological, cultural, and economic factors.

Contextual Analysis

• Author: Views advocated by the author.
• Audience: Expected reaction from the writer.
• Source Type: Speech, poem, textbook, or monument.
• Time/Era: Events happening during its creation.
• Place: Culture of the people.
• Intention: Reason or expected action from the audience.

Content

• Refers to the topic in a source, with meaning based on historical context.

Content Analysis

• For written sources: Organization, concepts, information, arguments, emotions, writing style, and references.
• For objects: Kind, structure, composition, function, and meaning.

Consequences

• The effects or significance of a primary source in the grand narrative of history.

E.H. Carr Quote

• "The past which a historian studies is not a dead past, but a past which in some sense is still living in the present."

Primary Sources

• Helps understand the relationship between past and present.
• Examples include "First Voyage Around the World," "Customs of the Tagalogs," "Kartilla ng Katipunan," "Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan," and more.