Mariano, Shyla Czarina G.

Ms. Blessed Ortega

GEREADPH
October 22, 2021

INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY
1. Definition of History
History is one of the branches of social science discipline of knowledge
which defines as the systematic study of the man’s documented past which has
an objective to establish underlying relationship, to corroborate ancient pieces of
information and the certitude behind those, and to restore events from the past
in its chronological order. It also refers to the study and interpretation done by
a historian on the data and other sources of the past human activities, people,
societies, and civilizations giving rise to the present day. It originates from the
Greek word “istoria” which refers to inquiry, a manner of finding knowledge
through asking questions.

2. Significance of History
Studying history is significant for understanding the occurrence of par-
ticular events existing at the present which allows humans to scrutinize on the
snags happened from the past for the purpose of guiding them not to repeat the
similar patterns of circumstances which leads in deriving rational decisions as
approaches in solving societal challenges of this contemporary world.

3. Elements of History
History is composed three key elements which are as follows:
a. People
People refers to human regarded as the most essential element of
history since the events from the past cannot exist without people who did
them. For instance, Christianity would not be adhered in the Philippines
if Spain did not colonize the country in 1521 which resulted to the intro-
duction of the religion done by Ferdinand Magellan to the natives of Cebu
who gave Santo Niño to Hara Humamay (others said Amihan), known with
prominence as Reyna Juana, and with the arrival of Miguel Lopez
de Legazpi in 1965.
b. Time
Time refers to the particular and measurable period which events take
place, exists, or happens, and indicates changes to people’s modes of existence.
It is one of the significant components of history since history utilize it for the
organization of the facts and the sources of information, as well as the formation
of the interrelationship of the phenomena from the past to the present and for the
future. To illustrate, history teachers cannot teach the history of EDSA People
Power I on February 22-25,1986 without mentioning portions of information
regarding the declaration of Martial Law by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos
on September 21, 1972.
c. Place
Place refers to a specific area, space, or location which is occupied by
people in a usual basis. It is one of the fundamental facets of history since it pro-
vides notable meaning to the historical past events and it reminds people to bear
in mind those occurrences and the morals behind those. For illustration, seeing
the Aguinaldo Shrine in this present time is existing evidence where the Philippine
Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898, happened and it imparts sense of
patriotism and freedom to every Filipino citizen.

4. Classification of Sources in History and Its Distinctions

The following are the three classifications of sources in history:
a. Primary Sources

Primary sources are documents, artifacts, or images providing unme-

diateda evidences and immediate access regarding to a particular topic under a
research investigation. They are the authentic, on-the spot, and first-hand ac-
counts or materials utilized as sources of information in history coming from
people who did those or have a personal connection with them which
include letters, diaries, paintings, archives, interviews, manuscripts,
autobiographies, speeches, video or sound recordings, and artifacts
such as coins, utensils, weapons used during ancient wars, infra-
structures like ancestral or heritage houses, and human and animal
remains or fossils. For instance, the Parisian Life of Juan Luna.
 b. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are works which used for analysis, in-
terpretation, and assessment of a historical phenomenon with the
utilization of primary sources resulting to reviews and critique papers. These are
second-hand accounts or materials utilized as sources of information for referen-
cing purposes deducted from primary sources created by individuals who do not
have a personal experience or connection to the actual event or situation at first-
hand like researchers and historians. These have purposes of explaining, inter-
preting, and preserving the facts found in primary sources, and serve as addi-
tional sources of information including journal articles containing research con-
clusions and analysis, textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, books composed of
multiple interpretations and analysis regarding a primary source, political com-
mentary, biographies, dissertations, editorial section of the newspaper, and cri-
tique paper for literatures, artworks, and songs. One of the prominent examples
of these are the World Book Encyclopedias.
c. Tertiary Sources
Tertiary sources are either the printed or electronic compilations, and
third-hand accounts or materials utilized as sources of information for the iden-
tification and location of both primary and secondary sources which are com-
posed of almanacs, fact books, websites, directories, guidebooks, manuals, hand-
books, and directories. The example of tertiary sources is Telephone Directory of
the Connecticut Telephone Company for September 1880.

5. Problems in the Study of History

The major challenges in the study of history consist of lack of sources
and bias. Sources are essential to historians since they provide information for
historical research which can be proven as facts and will be regarded as the ac-
tual events happened from the past once they are shared and spread
on the world. Lack of sources leave knowledge or information to
be theories and invalid ones. On the other hand, biases are in-
deed challenges in history since history should be more
evidence-based rather than using bias thus avoiding them are
must if the probability of preventing them is possible.