quiz-RIPH.pdf

DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORY Derives from the Greek word historia which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation.” As a discipline, it existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as mathematics and philosophy. Was then adapted to classical Latin and historia becam...

DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORY Derives from the Greek word historia which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation.” As a discipline, it existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as mathematics and philosophy. Was then adapted to classical Latin and historia became known as the account of the past of a person or of a group of people through written documents and historical evidences. This meaning stuck until the early parts of the twentieth century Became an important academic discipline THE MEANING OF HISTORY Excerpts from Understanding History: A Primer of Historical Method by Louis Gottschalk (1950, New York: Knopf, p. 17) The English word history is derived farm the Greek noun istoria, meaning learning. As used by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, history meant a systematic account of a set of natural phenomana, whether or nat chronological factoring was a factor in the account…. In the course of time, however, the equivalent Latin word scientia (English, science) came to be used more regularly to designate non- chronological systematic accounts of natural phenomena, and the word history was reserved usually for accounts of phenomena (especially human affairs in chronological order). By its most common definition, the word history now means, “the past of mankind.” THE MEANING OF HISTORY Below is a definition of history by Zeus A. Salazar (1999): “Ang KASAYSAYAN ay SALAYSAY hinggil sa nakaraan o nakalipas na may SAYSAY kahulugan, katuturan, at kabuluhan sa SARILING LIPUNAN at KULTURA o kabuuang kinabibilangan. Ito ay iniuulat gamit ang mga konsepto at kategorya ng sariling kultura.” DUTY OF HISTORIANS write about the lives of important individuals like monarchs, heroes, saints and nobilities. write about wars, revolutions and other important breakthroughs. They live with the mantra of “no document, no history” which means that unless a written document can prove a certain historical event, then it cannot be considered a historical fact PROGRESS OF HISTORY It opened up to the possibility of valid historical sources, which were not Dimited to written documents, like government records, chroniclers’ Accounts, or personal letters.  Giving premium to written documents essentially invalidates the history of other civilizations that do not keep written records. Restricting historical evidence as exclusively written is also discrimination against other social classes who were not recorded in paper. This loophole was recognized by historians who started using other kinds of historical sources such as oral traditions in forms of epics and songs, artifacts, architecture and memory. PROGRESS OF HISTORY History became inclusive and started collaborating with other disciplines as its auxiliary disciplines for example: with the aid of archaeologists, historians can use artifacts from a bygone era to study ancient civilization that were formerly ignored in history because of lack of documents. with the help of linguists, historical evolutions were traced as well as past connections among different groups and flow of cultural influence by studying language and the changes that it has undergone. Scientists like biologists and biochemists can help with the study of the past through analyzing genetic and DNA patterns of human societies. QUESTIONS AND ISSUES IN HISTORY Historiography- the history of history. Different from history’s object of study is the past, the events that happened in the past and the causes of such events while historiography’s object of study is history itself(how was a certain historical text written? Who wrote it? What was the context of the publication? What particular historical method was employed? What are the sources used?) -lets the students have better understanding of history because they are provided with the understanding of the facts and the historian’s contexts, the methods employed by the historian and the theory and perspective, which guided him. -significant for someone studying history because it teaches the students to be critical in the lessons of history presented to him. QUESTIONS AND ISSUES IN HISTORY Various roles of history in the past States use history to unite a nation- it can be used as a tool to legitimize regimes and forge a sense of collective identity through collective memory. 2. Lessons from the past can be used to make sense of the present. Learning of past mistakes can help people to not repeat them. 3. As a narrative, any history that has been taught and written is always intended for certain group of audience. Ex. When the ilustrados like Jose Rizal, Isabelo delos Reyes and Pedro Paterno wrote history, they intended it for the Spaniards. Americans wrote narratives to justify their colonization of the Philippines. PHILOSOPHIES OF HISTORY Positivism The school of thought that emerged between the 18 th and 19th century that believes empirical and observable evidence is required before one can claim that a particular knowledge is true. -also entails an objective means of arriving at a conclusion. -the mantra “no document, no history” stems from this very truth. P -positivist historians are also expected to be objective and impartial not only in their arguments but also on their conduct of historical research. POST-COLONIALISM The school of thought that emerged in the early twentieth century when former colonized nations grappled with the idea of creating their identities Pand understanding their societies against the shadow of their colonial past. -looks at two things in writing history: 1. To tell the history of their nation that will highlight their identity free from that of colonial discourse and knowledge. 2. To criticize the methods, effects and idea of colonialism. Is therefore a reaction and an alternative to the colonial history that colonial powers created and taught to their subjects. WHY STUDY HISTORY? An examination of the past can tell us a great deal about how we came to be who we are. It means looking at the roots of the modern institutions, ideas, values and problems. -looking at the past teaches us to see the world through different eyes- appreciating the diversity of human perceptions, beliefs and cultures. Different and/or new perspectives will enable us to analyze critically the present contexts of society and beings. IMPORTANCE AND USES OF HISTORY Given are the uses of history as summarized by Foray and Salevouris (1988). Some of these are interestingly explained by B.H. Lidedell Hart (1971) and they are: History provides a source of personal and social identity. History helps us understand the problems of the present. History – good history-corrects misleading analogies and “lessons” of the past. History can help one develop tolerance and open-mindedness. History helps us better understand all human behaviors and all aspects of the human condition. History provides the basic background for many disciplines. History can be a source of entertainment. History, when studied, can teach many critical skills.