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The Meaning of History
The Meaning of History
The process of critically examining and analyzing the
records and survivals of the past.
The English word history is derived from the Greek To study objectively (intention of acquiring detached and
word “istoia” meaning learning truthful knowledge independent of one’s personal
According to Aristotle, history is the systematic account reactions) a thing must first be an object and must have
of a set of natural phenomena whether or not an independent resistance outside the human mind).
chronological ordering was a factor in an account, and Most of history is based on the human mind since most
this is considered as natural history. As time passed, the of history is based upon recollection (written or spoken
equivalent Latin word “scientia”, which is science in history).
English later was used more to designate non- In reconstruction, only a part of what was observed is
chronological systematic accounts of phenomena. remembered, only a part of what was remembered is
Presently, the word “history” means the “past of recorded, only a part of what was recorded survives,
mankind”. History is the study of past events, particularly only a part of what survived comes to the historian’s
in human affairs. attention.
History in German is “Geschichte”, meaning, “that which Only of a part of what is credible has been grasped, only
has happened”. This means that the word implies that a part of what has been grasped can be expounded and
history teaches and we may learn from the lessons of narrated by the historian.
history.
With the definition of history, it brings man to a
recognition that history cannot be reconstructed, that the
past of mankind, much of it, is beyond recall. And that HISTORICAL SOURCES
even the best of our memories cannot re-create our
past. - Objects from the past or testimony concerning the past which
The reconstruction of the total past of mankind is the historians use to create their own depiction of the past.
total goal of historians which, however, is unattainable.
Historians will never really know everything that
happened in the past. 1. According to Form
The problem that every historian confronts is that the
evidence they rely on is likely to be fragmented, *Written Sources
incomplete and even contradictory. The result is, each
historian’s conclusions are influenced by the evidence - Published materials (books, journals etc.) and manuscript
they have selected from what is available and from how (handwritten and unprinted like archival materials and memoirs)
they interpreted it.
And from whatever a historian only has will be the only *Non written Sources
thing that he can use to connect him to the past. -Oral history, artifacts, fossils, etc.
2. According to Origin
*Primary Sources
- It must have been produced by a contemporary of that is - deals with the problem of credibility.
narrated. It is a document or physical object written or created during
the time under study. These sources were present during an - Tests of credibility are:
experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular
Determine the Character of the Author, his reliability, and his
event.
ability and willingness to tell the truth
*Secondary Sources
Determine the Corroboration, historical facts rest upon the
- Interpret and analyze primary sources testimony of two or more reliable witnesses
- They are one or more steps removed from the event. Examples
are printed textbooks.
KINDS OF PRIMARY SOURCES
Records of social and cultural observations
HISTORICAL CRITICISM Chronicles
- Settles matters on the form and content of a source Human Fossils (remains of ancient man imbedded in the
earth such as bones, hair, skin etc.)
Artifacts (cultural evidences of man in the past such as
tools and implements)
*External Criticism Records of Detective Investigations
Royal Decrees and Laws
- Deals with the problem of authenticity
Official Reports
- To spot hoaxes, fakes, forgeries and fabrications Maps
Memoirs or Autobiographies
- Tests of Authenticity are: Personal accounts: record of interviews
Newspapers and Magazines: reports of correspondents
Determine the date if it is Anachronistic: a material, skill or
Legislative journals
culture does not exist at that time
Court Records
Determine the author in the uniqueness of his handwriting or
signature
National Historical Commission of the Philippines