HISTORICAL METHOD

HISTORICAL SOURCES
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
What are the limitations of
historical knowledge?
 OUTLINE OF DISCUSSION

I.History as Reconstruction
II.The Historical Method
III.Historical Sources [Written and Non-written;
Primary and Secondary]
IV.Historical Criticism [External and Internal]
INTRODUCTION: HISTORY AS
RECONSTRUCTION

 The historian is many times removed from

the events under investigation
 Historians rely on surviving records
HISTORY AS RECONSTRUCTION

 “Only a part of what was observed in the past was

remembered by those who observed it;
 only a part of what was remembered was recorded;
 only a part of what was recorded has survived;
 only a part of what has survived has come to the
historian’s attention.”
 Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History
HISTORY AS RECONSTRUCTION

 “Only a part of what is credible has been

grasped, and only a part of what has been
grasped can be expounded or narrated by
the historian.”
 Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History
WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL METHOD?

 Historians have to verify sources, to date

them, locate their place of origin and
identify their intended functions
WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL METHOD?

 The process of critically examining and

analyzing the records and survivals of the past
HISTORICAL SOURCES

 Sources
 an object from the past or testimony concerning the
past on which historians depend in order to create their
own depiction of that past.
 Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an
Introduction to Historical Method
 Tangible remains of the past
 Anthony Brundage, Going to Sources
WRITTEN SOURCES
 Published materials
 Books, magazines, journals,
 Travelogue
 transcription of speech
 Manuscript [any handwritten or typed record that has not
been printed]
 Archival materials
 Memoirs, diary
NON-WRITTEN SOURCES

Oral
Artifact Ruins Fossils
history

Video Audio
Art works
recordings recordings
WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?

 Testimony of an eyewitness
 A primary source must have been produced
by a contemporary of the event it narrates
WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?
 A primary source is a document or physical
object which was written or created
during the time under study.
 These sources were present during an
experience or time period and offer an
inside view of a particular event.
WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?

 Primary sources are characterized by their

content, regardless of whether they are
available in original format, in
microfilm/microfiche, in digital format,
or in published format.
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES

1. Written 3.
2. Images
sources Artifacts

4. Oral
testimony
WHAT ARE SECONDARY SOURCES?
 A secondary source interprets and
analyzes primary sources. These sources are
one or more steps removed from the
event.
 Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes
or graphics of primary sources in them.
WHAT ARE SECONDARY SOURCES?

 Examples:
 History textbook
 Printed materials (serials, periodicals which
interprets previous research)
PRACTICAL EXAMPLE/WORKSHEET

 Topic: Tejeros Convention

 Primary Source: Santiago Alvarez’ account
 Secondary Source: Teodoro Agoncillo’s Revolt
of the Masses
WHAT IS HISTORICAL CRITICISM?
 In order for a source to be used as evidence
in history, basic matters about its form and
content must be settled
 External Criticism
 Internal Criticism
WHAT IS EXTERNAL CRITICISM?
 The problem of authenticity
 To spot fabricated, forged, faked
documents
 To distinguish a hoax or misrepresentation
TESTS OF AUTHENTICITY
 Determine the date of the document to see
whether they are anachronistic
 e.g. pencils did not exist before the 16th Century
 Determine the author
 e.g. handwriting, signature, seal
TESTS OF AUTHENTICITY
 Anachronistic style
 e.g. idiom, ortography, punctuation
 Anachronistic reference to events
 e.g. too early, too late, too remote
 Provenance or custody
 e.g. determines its genuineness
CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

 Content Analysis
 a systematic evaluation of the primary source
be it a text, painting, caricature, and /or
speech that in the process students could
develop and present an argument based on
their own understanding of the evidences
from their readings.
CONTENT ANALYSIS

 The students will identify pertinent

information from the text/ document and
explain its importance to their understanding
of history in the Philippine setting.
CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

 considers specifically the time, place and

situation when the primary source was written.
 The analysis as well includes the author’s
background, authority on the subject, and intent
perceptible, and its relevance and meaning to
people and society today.
 Thank you!
OBJECTIVES

 discuss the accounts of Alvarez and Agoncillo

in relation the topic sources of History
through an oral recitation
 evaluate their learning through a given quiz
 1. Based on the two accounts, which one do you
prefer? Explain.
 2. Do you affirm that primary sources are superior
over the secondary sources?
 3. What the advantages and disadvantages of the
secondary sources?