WEEK 1 DEFINITION OF HISTORY.pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline and to be familiar with the underlying philosophy and methodology of the discipline. To apply the knowledge in historical methodology and philosophy in assessing and analyzing existing historical narrati...

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline and to be familiar with the underlying philosophy and methodology of the discipline. To apply the knowledge in historical methodology and philosophy in assessing and analyzing existing historical narratives.  To examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources. To appreciate the importance of history in the social and national life of the Philippines. WHAT WE’LL DISCUSS ? ❑Definition of History ❑Questions and Issues in History  DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORY was derived from the Greek word historia which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation.” DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORIA became known as the account of the past of the person or of a group or people through written document and historical evidences. DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORY has always been known as the study of the past. HISTORY became an important academic discipline. DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORY it became the historian’s duty to write about the lives of important individuals like monarchs, heroes, saints and nobilities. It is thus important to ask: What counts as a history ? “NO DOCUMENT, NO HISTORY.” DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER HISTORY progressed and opened up to the possibility of valid historical sources, which were not limited to written documents, like government records, chronicles accounts, or personal letters. Restricting historical evidence as exclusively written is also discrimination against other social classes who were not recorded.  DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER The loophole was recognized by historians who started using other kinds of historical sources, which may not be in written form but were just as valid. DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER History, thus became more inclusive and started collaborating with other disciplines as its auxiliary disciplines. Archaeologists: use artifacts from bygone era. Linguists: helpful in tracing historical evolutions. Scientist: can help by analyzing genetic or DNA. QUESTIONS AND ISSUES IN HISTORY HISTORY as a discipline has already turned into a complex and dynamic inquiry. “What is history? “Why we nee to study history? And history for whom? QUESTIONS AND ISSUES IN HISTORY HISTORY is study of the past, the events that happened in the past, and the causes of such events. HISTORIOGRAPHY is the study of history itself. HISTORIOGRAPHY lets the students have a better understanding of history QUESTIONS AND ISSUES IN HISTORY HISTORIOGRAPHY it is important for someone who studies history because it teaches the students to be critical in the lesson history.  BETHINK! “Learning of past mistakes can help people to not repeat them. Being reminded of a great past can inspire people to keep their good practices to move forward.” POSITIVISM Positivism is the school of though that emerged the eighteenth and nineteenth century This thought requires empirical and observable evidence before one can claim that a particular knowledge is true. POSITIVISM In a discipline of history, the mantra “no document, no history” stems from his very same truth where historians were required to show written primary documents in order to write a particular historical narrative. Positivist historians are expected to be objective and impartial not just in their arguments but also on their conduct of historical research. POSTCOLONIALISM Post colonialism is a school of thought emerged in the early twentieth century. Post colonial history looks at two things in writing history: 1. To tell the history of their nation. 2. To criticize the methods, effects, and idea of colonialism. POSTCOLONIALISM ✓Therefore, post colonial history is a reflection and an alternative to the colonial history that colonial powers created and thought to their subjects. HISTORY AND HISTORIAN -If history is written with agenda or is heavily influenced by the historian, is it possible to come up with an absolute historical truth? Is history an objective discipline? if it is not, is it still worthwhile to study history?  HISTORY AND HISTORIAN HISTORY AND HISTORIAN Indeed, an exact and accurate account of the past is impossible for the very simple reason that WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THE PAST. HISTORY AND HISTORIAN 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. HISTORY AND HISTORIAN “Facts cannot speak for themselves”. HISTORY AND HISTORIAN It is the job of the historian to give meaning to these facrs and organize them into a timeline, establish causes, and write history. Historian is a person of his own who is influenced by his own context, environmnet, ideology, education, and influences. HISTORY AND HISTORIAN His (historian) 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. ▪ An even the form of his written.  “Historical Research requires rigor.” HISTORY AND HISTORIAN Historical methodology comprises certain techniques and rules that historian follow in order to properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing history. For example, if a historian chooses to use an oral account as his data in studying the ecthnic history of the Ifugaos in the Cordilleras during American Occupation, he neeeds ti validate the claims of his informant through comparing and corroborating it with written sources. Therefore, the historian needs not let his bias blind his judgement and such bias is only acceptable if he maiantains his rigor as researcher. THE ANNALES SCHOOL OF HISTORY THE ANNALES SCHOOL OF HISTORY It is a scholl of history born in France that challenge tha cannons of history. This school of thought didi wat with the common historical subjects that were almost related to the conduct of states and monarchs. They are more concern in social history and studied longer historical periods. HISTORICAL SOURCES With the past as history’s subject matter, the historian’s most important resaech tool of the historian. in general, historical sources can be classified between primary sources and secondary sources. HISTORICAL SOURCES Take Note: The classification of sources between two categories depends on the historical subject being studied. HISTORICAL SOURCES Primary Sources are those sources produced at the same time as the event , period, or subject being studied. For instance: If the historian wishes to study the Common Wealth Constitution Convebtuin of 1935, his primary sources can inc lude the ff: 1. Minutes of convention, 2. Newspaper clippings, 3. Philippine Commission reports of the U.S Commissioners, 4. Records of the convention, 5. The draft of the Constitution, and even 6. Photographs of the event. EXAMPLE OF PRIMARY SOURCES: ❑ Archival Documents; ❑ Artifacts; ❑ Memorabilia; ❑ Letters; ❑ Census; and ❑ Government records SECONDARY SOURCES are those sources, which were produced by an author who used primary sources to produce the material. In other word, secondary sources are historical sources, which studied a certain historical subject. The classification of sources between primary and seconday depends not on the period when the source was produced or the type of the source but on the subject pof the historical research. HISTORICAL SOURCES Both primary and secondary sources are useful in writing and learning history. However, historian and students of history need to thoroughly scrutinize these historical sources to avoid deception and to come up with the historical truth. The historians should be able to conduct an external criticism and internal criticism of the sources, especially in the primary source which can age centuries. EXTERNAL CRITICISM is the practice of verifying yje authencity of evidence by examining its physical characteristics; of the time when it was produced; and the materials used for evidences. Example of the things that will be examined when conducting external criticism: Paper, type of the ink, and the language and words used in materials, among others. INTERNAL CRITICISM is the examination of the truthfulness of the evidence. It looks the content of the source and examine the circumtance of its production. Internal criticism looks at the truthfulnesss and factuality of the source, its context, the agenda behind its creation, the knowledge which informed it, and its intended purpose. Internal criticism enatils thta the hisorian acknowlede and analyze how such reports can be manipulated to be used as a war propaganda. ✓ Without thorough criticism of hostorical evidences, historical deceptions and lies will be highly probable. ✓ The task of the historian is to took at the available historical sources and select the most relevant ad meaningful for history and for the subject matter that he is studying. REMEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! History, like other academic discipline, has come a long way but still has a lot of remaining tasks to do. It does not claim to render absolute and exact judgement bacuase as long as time unfolds, the study of history can never be complete. PHILIPPINE HISTORIOGRAPHY Underwent several changes since the precolonial period until the present. Ancient Filipinos narrated their history throuugh communal songs and epics that they passed orally from a generation to generation.