Lesson 1: History - Introduction and Historical Sources PDF

Lesson 1 History: Introduction and Historical Sources HISTORY - refers to the study and interpretation by a historian on the data and other source of the past human activity, people, societies and civilizations leading to the present day. Three Important Concepts...

Lesson 1 History: Introduction and Historical Sources HISTORY - refers to the study and interpretation by a historian on the data and other source of the past human activity, people, societies and civilizations leading to the present day. Three Important Concepts - based on past events - it is interpreted by someone usually by historian - rely on data and documents which historian call as historical sources. HISTORY - Derived from the Greek word historia - "knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation" -It denotes asking question or investigation of the past done by person trained to do so or by persons who are interested in human past. HISTORIAN -is an expert or student of history, especially that of a particular period, geographical region or social phenomenon - seek not only historical evidence and facts but also to interpret these facts. - responsible for reconstructing the past. In reconstructing the past, a historian can be subjective; after all he is human, fallible and capable error. - Historian is influenced by his own environment, ideology, education and influence. His interpretation of the historical fact is affected by his context and circumstances The Indian Parable of an Elephant and The Blind Men  HISTORIAN Because certain events happened so long ago and because sometimes the evidence is incomplete, historians have different approaches and views about what happened in the past. This is the subjective nature of history, one historian claims an event happened a certain way, while another disagree completely. The best approach is to do all we can to reconstruct as fully as possible our picture of the past.  HISTORIAN - Another way for a historian to be objective is to follow the historical method.. It is the core protocols historians’ use for handling sources. An objective historian must verify sources, to date them, locate the place of origin and identify their intended functions. It is important for a historian to base their accounts on source materials. HISTORIOGRAPHY - what they call “history of history” -study of how history was written, by whom and why it was recorded as such. -is concerned with how historians have presented history. Interpretation about the past can be objective or true as long as they are free of inherent contradictions, are not contrary to the laws of nature and are based on actual remains from the time period referred to. - One big advantage of historiography is that the liars of history are usually quite transparent. HISTORICAL SOURCES - tangible remains of the past. - is an object from the past or testimony concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own depiction of the past.  THREE KINDS OF SOURCES 1. PRIMARY SOURCES 2. SECONDARY SOURCES 3. TERTIARY SOURCES PRIMARY SOURCES - is a testimony of an individual who was a participant in or a direct witness to the event that is being described. - document or physical object which was written or created during the time under a study. - were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event.  FIVE MAIN CATEGORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES Written sources Relics Numerical records Images Oral statements Written Sources or Documents - written or printed materials that have been produced in one form or another sometime in the past. They may be published materials such as travelogue, transcription of speech, autobiographies, journals or newspapers. It can be also in manuscript form or any handwritten or type record that has not been printed. Numerical records - include any type of numerical data in printed or handwritten form ORAL STATEMENTS -include any form of statement made orally by an eyewitness. A person interviewing an eyewitness RELICS - any objects whose physical or visual characteristics can provide some information about the past. Ruins Balangiga Bells IMAGES - includes photograph, posters, paintings, drawing cartoons and maps. Photograph (Bud Dajo Map (Murillo Velarde map Massacre) c.1734) SECONDARY SOURCES - interprets and analyzes primary sources - are one or more steps removed from the event. It is prepared by an individual who was not direct witness to an event, but not who obtained his or her description of the event from someone else. - Secondary sources may have pictures, votes or graphics of primary sources in them. EXAMPLES: history textbook, printed materials, nonfiction text such as newspaper, magazine, journals, works of criticism and interpretation. TERTIARY SOURCES - provides third hand information by reporting ideas and details from secondary source. -An eyewitness is more reliable than testimony at second hand, which is more reliable than hearsay or tertiary sources. - This does not mean that tertiary sources have no value, merely that they include potential for an additional layer of bias. EXAMPLES: encyclopedia, almanac, Wikipedia, YouTube, dictionaries, message boards, social media sites and other search sites.