Lesson 1 Meaning, Relevance and Sources of History (Philippine History)

CHAPTER 1: Meaning relevance & different sources of history GE 2: Readings in Philippine History Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: 1. To understand the meaning of history. 2. To examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences...

CHAPTER 1: Meaning relevance & different sources of history GE 2: Readings in Philippine History Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: 1. To understand the meaning of history. 2. To examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources. 3. To appreciate the importance of history in the social and national life of the Philippines. History is: A study of the past, the events that happened in the past, and the causes of such event. Derived from a Greek word “historia “which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation” Historia – known as the account of the past of a person or of a group of people through. written documents and historical evidence. Historian – person who seek historical evidence and facts; and also interpret these. facts. His job is to give meaning to these facts and organize them into timeline, establish. causes, and write history. Definitions of the nature of History: History is interpretative; it invites students to debate multiple perspectives, offer them opinions and educated interpretations, and challenge existing beliefs. History is revisionist in scope; it is an on-going conversation and a constant process of re-examining the past and deconstructing myths based upon new discoveries, evidence and perspectives. History is a constant process of questioning; it requires questioning the texts, examining. Them with a critical eye and asking new questions. Definitions of the nature of History: History is integrative of many disciplines; it especially incorporates geography, literature, art, sociology, economics, and political science. History is inclusive; it ensures that the experiences of all classes, regions and ethno-racial. groups, both genders are included. History incorporates historiography; in includes many different interpretations of historical. events written by many different historians. History vs Past Past involves everything that ever happened since the dawn of time- every thought and action of man or woman on earth, every leaf that fall in the tree, and every chemical change in this universe and others.” History is a process of interpreting evidence or records from the past in a thoughtful and informed way. It is the narrative that gives meaning, sense, and explanation to the past in the present. History vs Prehistory History and prehistory show differences between them in their nature and substance. The main difference between history and prehistory is the existence of records: History is the record of significant events that happened in the past. Prehistory is the period of human activity prior to the intervention of writing systems. History, Historicity, and Historiography History is a narrative account used to examine and analyze past events. Historicity is the authentication of characters in history, as opposed to legendary myth. Historiography is the writing of history, and the understanding of how the interpretations of historian change over time. It is the history of history. Historical sources A primary source in history is a personal or original piece of evidence from the past that provides direct insight into historical events, persons, or periods. These sources were created by people who were involved in or experienced the events they described. Primary source Example: 1. Written Documents 2. Photographs and Visual Materials 3. Oral History Interviews 4. Audio and Video Recordings 5. Official Records 6. Eyewitness Accounts Historical sources Secondary sources are created by those who did not immediately witness or experience the events being described. Instead, they rely on primary and secondary sources to evaluate, interpret, and contextualize historical events. Secondary source Example: 1. Biographies. 2. History books and articles. 3. Documentaries. 4. Encyclopedias Historical Criticism The examination of the truthfulness of the evidence. Internal criticism examines the veracity and accuracy of information, the source's creator, context, the motivation behind its production, and the knowledge. External Criticism verifies the physical aspects of evidence to determine its authenticity; and conformity with the historical characteristics of the time date it was made, and the evidentiary material Historical Criticism The historian first aims in the examination of testimony to obtain a set of particulars relevant to some topic or question that he has in mind. Garraghan (1950) identified (6) points of inquiries to evaluate the authenticity of a primary source: (1) Date, (2)Localization, (3) Authorship, (4) Analysis (5) Integrity, (6) Credibility. Historical Criticism Martha Howell and Walter Prevenier (2001) stated that before any source can be considered as evidence in a historical argument, it must satisfy three preconditions. 1. It must be comprehensible at the most basic level of vocabulary, language and handwriting. 2. The source be carefully located in accordance with place and time. 3. The authenticity of the source must always be checked, and counter checked. Historical Criticism Martha Howell and Walter Prevenier (7) Factors of internal Criteria: (a) the "genealogy" of the document, (b) the genesis of a document, (c) the "originality" of the document, (d) interpretation of the document, (e) the authorial authority, (f) the competence of the observer, and (g) the trustworthiness of the author