Understanding-History.pdf

UNDERSTANDING HISTORY Readings in Philippine History BAYAN, Jameson G. | Easter College | Teacher Education Department Understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline; Apply the knowledge in historical methodology in assessing and analyzing existing historical narrati...

UNDERSTANDING HISTORY Readings in Philippine History BAYAN, Jameson G. | Easter College | Teacher Education Department Understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline; Apply the knowledge in historical methodology in assessing and analyzing existing historical narratives; LEARNING OUTCOMES Examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources; and Appreciate the importance of history in the social and national life of the Philippines. LEARNING OUTCOMES WHAT IS HISTORY? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HISTORY? Study of the past Chronological record of significant events often including an explanation  HISTORY DEFINED Greek word historia (“knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation” Historia - the account of the past of a person through written documents and historical evidences HISTORY DEFINED “mga pangyayari na may saysay para sa grupo ng taong sinasaysayan nito” - Dr. Zeus Salazar  What counts as history? Traditional historians: “No document, no history” Sources are oral traditions in forms of epics and songs, artifacts, architecture, and memory History and Historiography History - the object of study is the past Historiography - the object of study is history itself (the history of history) Who wrote it? What particular historical method was employed? What were the sources used?  Historiography “Writing of history” (Historical writing) Based on critical examination of sources, selection of particular details from authentic materials in those sources and the synthesis of those details Done through Historical Research and Historical Methodology  Historical Methodology comprises certain techniques and rules that historians follow in order to properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing history historical claims can still be validated by using reliable evidences and meticulous historical methodology  Role of Historians To look at the available sources and select the most relevant for history and subject of study; To organize the past that is being created; and To seek for the meaning of recovering the past to let the people see the continuing relevance of memories (Historical understanding)  Importance of History To unite a nation To legitimize regime and forge a sense of collective identity through collective memory To make sense of the present To not repeat the mistakes of the past To inspire people to keep their good practices to move forward How to History  Historical Sources Primary Sources produced at the same time as the event, period, or subject being studied include documents or artifacts created by the witness of the event “Firsthand testimony”; “Eyewitness accounts” include diaries, letters, interviews, photographs, and newspapers Evaluating Primary Sources (Garraghan, 1950) Date - When was it produced? Localization - Where did it originate? Authorship - Who wrote it? Analysis - What pre-existing material served as the basis for its production? Integrity - What was its original form? Credibility - What is the evidential value of its content?  Historical Sources Secondary Sources produced by an author who used primary sources to produce the material analyzed a scholarly question and often use primary source as evidence include books, theses, dissertations, journals, and magazines  Historical Sources Primary and secondary sources should be evaluated its validity and credibility by asking these questions: How did the author know about the given details? Was the author present at the event?  Historical Sources Where did the information come from? Is it a personal experience, an eyewitness account, etc.? Did the author conclude based on a single or multiple source?  Historical Sources In terms of historical reliability: Primary Source: The closer the date of creation, the more reliable one. Secondary Source: The more recent, the more reliable one.  Historical Criticism External Criticism verification of authenticity by examining physical characteristics; consistency with the historical characteristic of the time when it was produced; and the materials used for evidence  Historical Criticism External Criticism: We can ask these questions: When/where it was written? Who was the author? Why did it survive? What were the materials used? Where the words used being used those times?  Historical Criticism Internal Criticism looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the evidence by looking at the author of the source, its context, the agenda, the knowledge which informed it, and its intended purpose  Historical Criticism Internal Criticism: We can ask these questions: Was it written by eyewitness or not? Why was it written? What are the connotations? What is the literal meaning? What is the meaning of the context?  Locating Primary Sources: Major Repositories of Document Sources in the Philippines National Library  National Library Complete microfilm copies of the Philippine Revolutionary Records (1896-1901) A compilation of captured documents of Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary government, and Historical Data Papers (1952-1953) A collection of “history and cultural life” of all towns in the country spearheaded by public school teachers during President Elpidio Quirino’s term National Archives  National Archives holds a substantial collection of catalogued and uncatalogued Spanish documents about the Philippines from 1552 to 1900; consist of 432 document categories such as: Memorias (Official Reports of Provincial Governors) Ereccion de los Pueblos (Establishment of Towns) Ayuntamiento de Manila (Town Council of Manila) Academic Institutions  Academic Institutions University of the Philippines in Diliman Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City University of Santos Tomas in Manila Silliman University in Dumaguete City University of San Carlos in Cebu City Private owned Museums/Archives Ayala Museum (Makati) Lopez Museum (Pasig)  Some Repositories (Outside the Philippines) The bulk of Spanish documents are found at the Archivo General de Indias in Sevilla, Spain Important American sources are available at the: Manuscript Division of the United States Library of Congress Harvard University’s Houghton Library United States National Archives, and the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library UNDERSTANDING HISTORY Readings in Philippine History BAYAN, Jameson G. | Easter College | Teacher Education Department