READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Lesson 1 : History Definitions, Issues, Sources, and Methodology

Universidad de Zamboanga
School of Education Arts, and Sciences
Perseverance and Selfless Service

Michelle Yenko Mohammad

UNIVERSIDAD DE ZAMBOANGA
June 2016 to present
UZ – SEAS Faculty member
Michellemohammad@uz.edu.ph
09659233896
https://www.facebook.com/michelleyenko

What is history?
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History is –

Always known as the study of the past, with special attention to the written
record.

Was derived from the Greek word historia which means “information” or an inquiry
designed to elicit truth”.

It has existed for around 2,400 years and as old as mathematics and philosophy.
Herodotus of Halicarnassus has generally been acclaimed as the “father of history”.

Questions and Issues in History##Why study history? And history for whom?#
• Historiography is the history of history.

The object of study is history itself. It attempts to answer several questions

such as “how was a certain historical text written? And what were the sources used?
Historiography lets you better understand history.

 
• You, as students of history must not only be a recipient of historical facts but
should question historical facts based on the different historians’ contexts.
 
 
• Relevance of History
- States use history to unite a nation.
- It can be used to make sense of the present.
- Past mistakes can help people to not repeat them.

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Schools of Thought in History##Positivism – #emerged between the eighteenth and

nineteenth century, which requires empirical and observable evidence before one can
claim that a particular knowledge is true. Historians who adhere to this must be
objective and impartial in their arguments and in their conduct of historical
research.##Postcolonialism – #emerged in the early twentieth century. Postcolonial
history looks at two things in writing history: first to tell the history of their
nation that will highlight their identity free from the colonial discourse and
knowledge, and second is to criticize the methods, effects and idea of
colonialism.# #History and the Historian – #It is the historian’s job to seek
historical evidences and facts and interpret these facts.#
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Historical methodology – comprises certain techniques and rules that historians
follow in order to properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing
history. (e.g. corroborating the key informant claims with written sources)
 
Sources of Historical Data

Published documents – include books, census, newspapers, government records,

pamphlets, posters, laws and court transcripts
Unpublished documents – include diaries, journals, school report cards, business
ledgers, and letters
Oral traditions – examples are celebrating harvest, stories, and riddles
Visual documents and articles – include films, painting, and photographs

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Kinds of Historical Sources

Primary source – is defined “as a piece of evidence written or created during the
period under investigation. (e.g. documents, archival materials, letters)
• can be an eyewitness account or a firsthand account of a particular event.
• can also be unwritten such as artifacts (e.g. Manunggul Jar, colonial
churches, clothes or jewelries.
• an individual’s firsthand account of a particular event such as memoirs can
be a primary source.
• other examples are photographs, films, recordings (audio and video)

Secondary source – are works produced after the event has taken place.
• usually an assessment or a commentary of events, people, or institutions of
the past
• often uses primary sources for aforementioned purpose. e.g. books
• other examples are textbooks, monographs, essays, articles, thesis and
dissertations, and papers read in conferences.

Historical Method
- Primary sources are subjected to historical method, which are composed of:

External criticism – aims at checking the authenticity of primary source by

examining its physical characteristics such as (a) consistency with the historical
characteristic of the time when it was produced and (b) the materials used for the
evidence.
- Includes examining the quality of paper, the type of ink, and the language
and words used in the material.

Internal criticism – is the examination of the truthfulness of the evidence

by looking into the content of the source and examining the circumstance of its
production. This looks into the truthfulness and factuality of the evidence by
looking at the author of the source, its context, the agenda behind the creation,
the knowledge which informed it, and its intended purpose.

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References:

Candelaria, J.L. et. al. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Rex Book Store.
Manila.
 
Camagay, M.L. et al. (2018). Unraveling the Past. Vibal Group, Inc.
 
Halili, M.C. (2010). Philippine History. Rex Book Store, Inc.

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