Petrus Jethro C.

Leopoldo B6-3

CONCEPTS OF HISTORY

History describes who we are and why we are the way we are. It
presents to us the our genesis. It is the historians’ job to collect and
evaluate information from primary sources, and we benefit and learn from
them. Historians use seven concepts to help them apprehend better as
they dive into our past.
Perspective. As the higher life with the highest consciousness, each of
us is unique and have our own different perspectives. Perspective is the
point of view or the angle from which we see and understand the world
around us. We all have different perspectives on an event or person
depending on our age, gender, beliefs, and values. Historians are not
different. They also have their own perspectives on a particular event in
history, and their perspectives can differ from the perspective of other
historians. The concept of perspective stimulates us to view an event or
person not just on our own angle, and understand the different beliefs and
values that shaped them to be the way they are.
Continuity and change. Along the course of history, some things
remain the same while other change. Things, such as traditions and
culture, are mostly passed down from generation to generation, while
others are changing or developing over time. Weapons, for example, have
evolved from swords to rifles to missiles to nukes. On the contrary, there
are things that are too unbearable for it to remain the same. Some people
have exerted effort on slavery, racism and the like to change or eradicate
them from the present to make it something that exists only in the past.
Cause and effect. The concept of cause and effect answers the ‘why’
and ‘what’ of history, the “why did it happen” and “what was the outcome.”
Every event must have a source that instigated it to happen, which source
can be man-related or natural occurring. This leads us further in
understanding and analyzing the reasons and motives why the event
occurred which brings us to the results or the outcomes of the event. The
effects of an event are in short-term and long-term. Short-term effects can
be very simple to identify, while long-term effects can be difficult to
observe and predict.
Evidence. Evidence is defined as the information gathered from
historical sources. Evidence can be collected from two sources: primary
and secondary source. Primary sources are the firsthand or original
account that gives of a strong and firm claim on an event. Secondary
sources may refer to or use the primary source and gives an interpretation
of it. Unlike the primary source, secondary source does not give the exact
account of an event because it takes into account the perspective of the
writer or the author of that source. This is the reason why historians do not
settle on a little amount of evidences but continues to search for more
sources.
Empathy. Empathy, defined as walking in someone else’s shoes,
guides us to a deeper step in history because we will not only analyze the
event based on our own perspective but take the first-person point of view.
This brings history into life because it allows us to be connected with other
human beings inspite of how much time has passed. This also brings us to
appreciate the situations they were in and the motivations, factors, and
beliefs behind their actions.
Significance. Not everything in our past has meaning or significance.
Some things are just a repetition or a cycle of the things we do. But history
is full of important events, people, and places that bear meaning and
significance. We can evaluate it’s significance. We can say that a certain
event, person or place is significant by judging its value to people who
lived at that time or by assessing if the effects are still prevailing today.
Contestability. Given the fact that historians have different
perspectives and opinions resulting in different interpretations, their
explanations and interpretations are often not the right answer and thus,
can be open to debate. The concept of contestability helps historians
arrive at the complete understanding of the past because debate mingles
and builds the opinions and interpretations of other historians.
The concepts of history are not separate from each other. Historians
can apply them simultaneously in understanding history. These concepts
serve as guide that helps historians to extract the most out of history.