RPH REVIEWER PDF

# Concept of History ## Etymology The word "history" comes from the Greek word " *istoia*", which means learning; Greek noun (Gottschalk, Louis. 1950. Understanding History: A Primer of Historical Method). As used by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, history meant a systematic account of a set of...

# Concept of History ## Etymology The word "history" comes from the Greek word " *istoia*", which means learning; Greek noun (Gottschalk, Louis. 1950. Understanding History: A Primer of Historical Method). As used by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, history meant a systematic account of a set of natural phenomena, whether or not chronological factoring was a factor in the account… *sciencia* (English "science") a Latin word came to be used more regularly to designate non-chronological systematic accounts of natural phenomena; 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." ## Importance of Studying History A number of historians and similar personalities have expressed their notion on the importance of history. Your choice of subject for Leaving Certificate may influence your future career or third-level options. Why not think about what history can offer? (Weekly Freeman). History will give you a combination of skills and insights that will help you to: * Prepare you for work. * Enable you to participate fully in society. * Develop you as a person (John Redmond). History is very relevant to modern life. Many books, films, and plays are inspired by historical events. Many people enjoy history as a hobby, as can be seen in the popularity of history books, films, and documentaries. History also helps us to understand many of the issues that affect the world today. By broadening your knowledge of current affairs, you are developing yourself personally and preparing yourself more fully for adult and working life. Can you think of any issues that affect the world that have their roots in history? History is unique in that it investigates how human life has changed over time. You will develop your understanding of change through the perspectives of political, social, cultural, economic, religious and scientific history. History is relevant to human life. You will develop an appreciation of the society in which you live and of other societies, past and present. You will also develop a greater awareness of your own identity and traditions. You will learn more about the particular role of women in shaping the past. ## History and the Historian These questions have haunted historians for many generations: * Is history an objective discipline? If it is not, is it worthwhile to study history? * If history is written with agenda or is heavily influenced by the historian, is it possible to come up with an absolute historical truth? An exact and accurate account of the past is impossible for the simple reason that we cannot go back in time. We cannot access the past directly as our subject matter. Historians only get to access representation of the past through historical sources and evidences. Therefore, it is the historian’s job not just to seek historical evidences and facts but also to interpret these facts and organize them into a timeline, establish causes, and write history. The historian is not a blank paper who mechanically interprets and analyzes present historical fact. He is a person of his own context, environment, ideology, education, and influences, among others. In that sense, his interpretation of the historical fact is affected by his context and circumstances. His subjectivity will inevitably influence the process of his historical research: the methodology that he will use, the facts that he shall select and deem relevant, his interpretation, and even the form of his writings. Thus, in one way or another, history is always subjective. If that is so, can history still be considered as an academic and scientific inquiry? Historical research requires rigor. Despite the fact that historians cannot ascertain absolute objectivity, the study of history remains scientific because of the rigor of research and methodology that historians employ. Historical methodology comprises certain techniques and rules that historians following order to properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing history. Certain rules apply in cases of conflicting accounts on different sources, and how to properly treat eyewitness accounts and oral sources as valid historical evidence. In doing so, historical claims done by historians and the arguments that they forward in their historical writings, while may be influenced by the historian’s inclinations, can still be validated by using reliable evidences and employing correct and meticulous historical methodology. For example, if a historian chooses to use an oral account as his data in studying the ethnic history of the Ifugaos in the Cordilleras during the American Occupation, he needs to validate the claims of his informant through comparing and corroborating it with written sources. Therefore, while bias is inevitable, the historian can balance this out by relying to evidences that back up his claim. In this sense, the historian need not let his bias blind his judgment and such bias is only acceptable. ## Understanding History = Making Sense of History (Torres, 2018) ### Ideas about History * Mere list of names, dates, places and important events * History is more than just knowing and memorizing facts. * Draw insights from the ideas and realities that have shaped the lives of men and women and the society. ### In understanding these ideas One can comprehend how situations happened: * Identify their elements, and * Think of how these situations can solve today's predicaments and help plan for the future. The study of history therefore is the study of the beliefs and desires, practices, and with this definition, history becomes an active factor in the study of Philippine society; includes a look into the development of Philippine culture through time, especially with the influences of the colonial period that would eventually shape the present Philippine identity. ## Historical Sources ### What are Sources? In his work, _Understanding History,_ Gottschalk (1950) discusses the importance of sources for the historian’s work: The historian, however, has to use many materials that are not in books. Where these are archaeological, epigraphical, or numismatical materials, he has to depend largely on museums. Where there are official records, he may have to search for them in archives, courthouses, government libraries, etc. Where there are private papers not available in official collections, he may have to hunt among the papers of business houses, the muniment rooms of ancient castles, the prized possessions of autograph collectors, the records of parish churches, etc. Having some subject in mind, with more or less definite delimitation of the persons, areas, times, and functions (i.e., the economic, political, intellectual, diplomatic, or other occupational aspects) involved, he looks for materials that may have some bearing upon those persons in that area at the time they function in that fashion. These materials are his sources. The more precise his delimitation of persons, area, time, and function, the more relevant his sources are likely to be (52-53). It is from historical sources that our history is studied and written. But in analyzing them, several methodologies and theories were used by historians to properly study history and glean from the sources what is, for them, a proper way of writing history to enhance and disseminate national identity. ### Primary Sources Primary sources are materials produced by people or groups directly involved in the event or topic being studied. These people are either participants or eyewitnesses to the event. These sources range from eyewitness accounts, diaries, letters, legal documents, official documents (government or private), and even photographs. Formally, there are eight examples of these primary sources: 1. Photographs that may reflect social conditions of historical realities and everyday life. 2. Old sketches and drawings that may indicate the conditions of life of societies in the past. 3. Old maps that may reveal how space and geography were used to emphasize trade routes, structural build-up, etc. 4. Cartoons for political expression or propaganda 5. Material evidence of the prehistoric past like cave drawings, old syllabaries, and ancient writings. 6. Statistical tables, graphs, and charts 7. Oral history or recordings by electronic means of accounts of eyewitnesses or participants; the recordings are then transcribed and used for research 8. Published and unpublished primary documents, eyewitness accounts, and other written sources ### Secondary Sources Gottschalk simply defines secondary sources as "the testimony of anyone who is not an eyewitness—that is of one who was not present at the event of which he tells" (p. 53). These are books, articles, and scholarly journals that had interpreted primary sources or had used the to discuss certain subjects of history (Torres, 2018). Both primary and secondary sources are useful in writing and learning history. However, historians and students of history need to thoroughly scrutinize these historical sources to avoid deception and to come up with the historical truth. The historian should be able to conduct and internal and external criticism of the source, especially primary sources which can age in centuries. * **External criticism** the practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by examining its physical characteristics; consistency with the historical characteristic of the time when it was produced, and the material used for the evidence. Examples of the things that will be examined when conducting external criticism of a document include the quality of the paper, the type of the ink, and the language and words used in the material, among others. * **Internal criticism**, on the other hand, is the examination of the truthfulness and factuality of the evidence by looking at the author of the source, its context, the agenda behind its creation, the knowledge that informed it, and its intended purpose, among others. ## Theories and Approaches in Understanding Philippine History (Halili, Ma. Christine) In the investigation and interpretation of the past, these theories could explain how and why events happen in societies: ### 1. Arnold Toynbee’s Challenge and Response Theory Is based on the idea that man responds to the situation placed before him. His actions are based on his thoughts. Thus, the society's way of facing the challenges depending upon its capabilities uncovers the pattern of the society's history. Mankind's approach in coping with challenges determines history. The __12-volume series of _A Study of History_ (1934-61)__ is based on Toynbee's thesis that history reflects the progress of civilizations rather than political entities. For him, there were patterns in the histories of various civilizations for which he came to the conclusion that there appears to be laws governing the lives of human civilizations. The general pattern shows the growth, breakdown and eventual dissolution of a particular civilization leading to the formation of a new one. Based on his hypothesis, the failure of a civilization to survive was the result of its inability to respond to challenges. * Under various circumstances, a power will wish to extend its influence at the expense of another. The threatened power will then reevaluate the challenge and adopt the course of action to curb the strategy of the opposing power. * In the struggle of dauntless Filipinos to regain the lost rights and freedom during the Spanish era, the propagandists and revolutionaries responded to colonial oppression by resisting. The challenge was posed by the colonial subjugation of the Filipinos, generally characterized by injustice and corruption. The response was defiance to the prevailing rule. Man's actions are not just involuntary movements especially when time allows him to plan his next action. These responses pass through the process of reasoning and analysis. Often, he deals with other people to discuss on how to answer a certain situation. ### 2. Alvin Scaff's Exchange theory Refers to the systematic statement of principles that govern the exchange of goods (tangible goods like property or money and intangible goods like peace or prestige) between individuals, between groups, between organizations, and even between nations. This is based on the idea of reciprocity. Alliances of people, communities as well as nations are rooted in the idea of interchange. * There are some motivational forces found in the society affecting the actions of people involved in the situation. A case in point is the barter system, used in business transactions because there was no currency during those days. Aside from domestic trading existing among the