Understanding History

• Generally, history is often associated with past events.
• Past events in the life of a society or country are studied by historians.
• Historians conduct research by investigating past records and including their research findings in the form of books, monographs or papers.

Understanding History

• The following diagram shows some understandings of history

Malay Language

• The term history comes from the Arabic word "Syajaratun" which means tree.
• History is also associated with origins, descent, genealogy, and story.

English Language

• History is history.
• History comes from the Greek word, historia which means research.
• History means a story about someone.

Dictionary

• The term history is defined as origins of descent, events that actually happened, or a study or knowledge of past events.

Understanding History According to Historians

• Several eminent historians have given their views on the meaning of history.

Herodotus

• History is the narration of important and admirable human actions and the causes of an event.
• His famous work is Histories or The Persian War.

E.H. Car

• History is the reader's response to historical writing, that is, facts written by historians.
• His famous work is "What is History".

Ibn Khaldun

• History discusses human society, world civilization and the changes that occur in its social characteristics.
• His famous work is Muqaddimah which contains six chapters.

Khoo Kay Kim

• History refers to anything that has ever happened or already happened.
• History encourages us to better understand what is happening today, as well as ensuring that the same mistakes do not happen again.
• History is the mother of all fields and its an eminent local historian who studies history.

Muhd Yusof Ibrahim

• History is the past itself
• History is a record or record of an event that happened at a certain time in the past.
• His famous work is Historian and Malay Historicity: Tradition and Transformation.

The Past and Space in History

• In studying history, we will refer to the vast and unbounded past space.

The Past

• The past refers to a series of events that have taken place.
• The past is studied according to the sequence of time called chronology.
• Chronology is a series of events that occur in an orderly manner according to the sequence of time from beginning to end.
• Time space can be divided into decades (10 years), centuries (100 years), and millennia (1000 years).
• The concept of time can also be measured according to periods, such as Before Christ (BC) and Anno Domini (AD).
• The Christian era begins with the birth of the Prophet Isa AS.

The Importance of Vast Space-Time

• Encourages historians to divide their writings into specific themes, such as political, economic, and social.
• Makes it easier for historians to conduct research before writing history.
• Adds diversity in the study and writing of history.

Historical Sources

• Historical sources are divided into two, namely primary sources and secondary sources.

Primary Sources

• Sources that have not been processed or published.
• Authentic sources.
• Sources that have not been interpreted.
• Examples of primary sources include artifacts, diaries, fossils, official documents, inscribed stones, official departmental files, non-artifacts, manuscripts, and oral information and personal letters.

Secondary Sources

• Sources that have been processed and published.
• Sources that have been disseminated to the public.
• Examples of secondary sources are newspapers, encyclopedias, books, journals and magazines.

Artifacts

• Human-made tools used for hunting, farming and trade.
• It is made of stone, glass and metal materials.
• The discovery of bronze bell artifacts in Kampung Pecu, Muar, Johor can be used as a source to see trade relations with the Funan Kingdom.

Non-Artifacts

• Archaeological data related to human culture found underground and on the surface of the land.
• For example, cave walls, city walls and building structures.
• The discovered Bujang Valley Temple can be used as a source of study to show the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism as well as trade relations between India and Kedah.

Encyclopedias

• The material contained in the encyclopedia is based on facts and authentic historical sources.
• For example, The Encyclopedia of Malaysia contains several themes such as early history, architecture, sea, and flora.

Research in History

• Research uses three methods of research, namely written, oral and archaeological methods.

Written Method

• Research on an event from written information from a source that is carved or written.
• The oldest writings were detected on cave walls, carved on stone, written on bark, ivory, and lontar leaves.
• Can be seen in a person's daily notes, government files, and travel records.

The Written Method Process

• Identify the source for an event, figure or institution.
• Obtain written sources from related countries in various languages.
• Obtain and verify these written sources
  • Make visits to the places where the sources are stored.
  • Get help from paleography experts.
• Collect and store the obtained sources.
  • Sources that are collected, recorded and stored to facilitate future research.

Interpretation in History

• Interpretation in history means explaining or translating facts about a historical event based on related sources.
• There is a diverse selection of sources, differing points of view and ideologies, and the purpose of the writing.
• It Produces studies that have strong evidence. It is Necessary to evaluate an event from different angles, and be open-minded and critical in studying an event.
• Western scholars interpret Tok Janggut as a rebel.
• Local researchers interpret Tok Janggut's rebellion as being caused by the British introducing land tax regulations that burdened the population.
• Interpretations among historians differ because they follow different viewpoints.

The Importance of Learning History

• By studying history, we can understand society, the state, and the world.
• We must take lessons from past events to act more carefully in the future and apply historical knowledge in our lives.

Knowing Origins

• Knowing the origins of our family and country.
• Understanding the customs and traditions, and culture of our nation.

Taking Lessons

• Bringing lessons and lessons from past events.
• Not repeating past mistakes.

Fostering Patriotism

• Appreciating the nation's heritage to be appreciated by future generations.
• Instilling a sense of love for the country.
• Raising the spirit of patriotism.

Strengthening unity

• Continuing the continuity of harmonious relations between races in our country.
• Becoming a source of awareness for the community in preserving and continuing our traditions and customs.

Building the Nation and State

• Maintaining the glory achieved by the nation.
• Understanding past and present cultures to be used as a comparison for building the nation and state in the future.

Applying Historical Thinking Skills

• Critical and analytical thinking can be improved.
• Able to make interpretations of an event.
• Encouraging someone to understand historical events more empathetically.