Understanding the Nature of History

Nature of History

• To fully grasp history, understanding its inherent nature is vital.
• History serves as an examination of the present through the lens of the past.
• The understanding of society's present form relies on the knowledge of its past.
• History explores the human experience, chronicling human struggles especially wars and independence movements.
• History is concerned with humankind through time, each event happening at a specific moment, outlining human development across eras.
• History looks at the interactions between humans and their environments.
• History seeks objective accounts of occurrences, historians rely on verifiable data from primary sources and interpret data free from subjectivity.
• History encompasses various aspects of human existence inter related to other aspects of society; political changes can affect societal aspects.
• History is a continuous discussion between past occurrences shaping future outcomes and interprets past events that may predict new events.
• History serves as interpretation and analysis, dissecting events as they alter societies over time.
• History requires coherence and continuity, monitoring societal progress across generations to prove continuity.
• History focuses on influential events essential for understanding the present.
• History is comprehensive, it addresses political, social, economic, religious, literary, aesthetic, and physical aspects for a global picture.

Relationship of History with other Social Sciences

• Political science requires historical context to understand government principles, laws, citizens' rights and international relations.
• Understanding economic activities from early hunting-gathering societies through to post-industrial states relies on reviewing the past. The roots of trade and diplomacy between nations are in their histories.

History and Sociology

• History explains culture, social changes, early communities, and development in social behavior chronologically.

History and Ethics

• History records mistakes made by nations and people for moral implications to guide reasonable actions and acceptable future behavior.

History and Psychology

• Psychology studies human motivations and behavior.
• History provides behavioral context on controversial figures which draws parallels between past actions and current leadership.
• History fosters public awareness against possible abuses of power by leaders.

History and Geography

• Geography provides insights for historical topics, with some areas of the Philippines illustrating historical events.
• The US established military presence in Corregidor during World War II and developed Baguio City for climate because Americans were accustomed to cold weather.
• History provides significant records of events, giving context to what has happened in the past and why it has happened.

Meaning of History

• The Greek word "historia" translates to knowledge through investigation and inquiry. (Encarta, 2009)
• History is an ongoing discussion. (Pieter Catharinus Arie Gey, 1945)
• History is or should be an attempt to reinterpret the past in (Collingwood, 1945)
• Kasaysayan rooted in "salaysay" or narrative and "saysay" to mean a narrative with certain meaning to a given time and place. (Ambeth Ocampo, 2001)

History as Viewed by Various Figures

• Plato viewed history as tool for moral instruction to teach people about virtues and vices of past societies.
• Aristotle that history was one way to understanding the causes/effects of events, an objective record of immutable past incidents.
• Herodotus saw history as a means of chronicling past events via eyewitness accounts in an informative and entertaining way, he is considered "father of history".
• Hegel viewed history as a spiritual development process driven by conflicting forces towards a final state of human consciousness.
• Dr. Jose Rizal believed history offers a way to understand the present by studying the past and to inspire a better future.
• Andres Bonifacio saw history as an understanding the struggles of Filipinos from colonialism to inspire freedom.
• Teodoro Agoncillo viewed history as understanding Filipino identity using primary sources to be accessible to the public.
• Gregorio Zaide thought history was as acknowledging the Filipino people's greatness to celebrate achievements.
• Ambeth Ocampo thought history was understanding ordinary lives using primary sources to be both informative and enjoyable.
• Renato Constantino thought history was understanding social and economic conditions shaping society from the oppressed to work for social justice.
• Zeus Salazar believed the importance of Filipino heritage in history using wholly Filipino syntax and outlook for Pantayong Pananaw or "new history".

Importance of History

• History is important to knowing one’s identity and for developing nationalism/patriotism.
• History is important to preserve significant events.
• History teaches us lessons from the past that can help us improve the conduct of our present life
• History tells us why society changes from one stage to another

Significance of History Through Filipino Figures

• Emilio Aguinaldo views that history should inspire people fighting for their country's independence.
• Apolinario Mabini viewed history inspires social justice and equitable society.
• Gregorio Del Pilar recognized that history preserves the memory of significant events and people who fought for freedom.
• Antonio Luna viewed history inspires societal improvement.
• Simeon Ola viewed that history provides insights into struggles, sacrifices, and motivations.
• Miguel Malvar views that history is a way of understand the struggle for Philippine Independence, where we can learn to avoid repeating past mistakes.
• Melchora Aquino viewed that history helps to bring to light the stories and achievements of women.
• Marcela Agoncillo views that history can provide example of inspiration, heroism, self sacrifice and resilience through Philippines flag and the actions of heroes.

Historical Data

• Historical data can be observed, remembered, recorded, survived, have availability and be utilized.
• Louis Gottschalk observed, "Of all the past recorded, remembered, it is credible for historians to talk about.”

Historical Sources

• Historical sources can be tangible remains of the past.
• Historical sources can also be testimonies concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own depiction of that past. - Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an Introduction to Historical Method
• Anything that contains important historical information can be a historical source.

Classifications of Historical Sources

• Primary sources include participants and eye witnesses during or soon after events with first hand evidence.
• Secondary resources are from historians etc, after events where they interpret and analyze primary sources.

Primary Sources

• Written: letters, autobiographies, diaries, government documents, minutes of meetings, newspapers, books.
• Non-Written: interviews, films, photos, recordings of music, clothing, buildings, tools.