Chapter 1

Historiography and Historical Method Introduction to History

 Content
HISTORIOGRAPHY

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

HISTORICAL METHOD

HISTORICAL SOURCES

HISTORICAL CRITICISM

REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY
SOURCES
Source: Books A Million
 HISTORIOGRAPHY
The study of how history is written and how
our historical understanding changes over
time.

A set of works of history, meaning texts

about the human past that were written at a
specific time and place using a roughly
consistent methodological and/or ethical-
political approach.

The study of the way history has been and is

written-the history of historical writing
-Furay and Salevouris
Source: Routledge
Topic 2
 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
Accidentalist
Subscribes to the idea that behind every
historical event are accidents which
served as driving force. The focus is more
on why the event happened.
Example:
1. A mosquito bite prevented Trotsky
being fit enough to seize control of
the USSR
2. A change in wind direction prevented
the Spanish Armada from arriving in
England
Topic 2
Annales School
Promoted a new form of history by
studying the lives of ordinary people and
replacing examination of politics,
diplomacy, and wars with inquiries into
climate, demography, agriculture,
commerce, technology, transportation,
and communication, as well as social
groups and mentalities.
Trivia
Named after the journal Annales
d'histoire économique et sociale.
 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
Hegelian
Intellectual movements and the progress
of ideas are the driving force in historical
change. Hegel saw history as a constant
progression towards true freedom.
Studies of ideas such as the Renaissance
are often Hegelian in character.
Note:
For Hegel, the development is marked by
conflict and struggle. The end or goal of
history is the actualization of freedom in
the life of the modern nation-state.
Topic 2
Historicist
A scientific approach to history
pioneered by von Ranke. Based on the
objective study of primary sources.
Believed that the study of such sources
would allow a reconstruction of history
“wie es eigentlich gewesen ist” – as it
actually was.
This school of historiography views that
people can learn lessons from the past.
This is because of their Free Will, and
their Free Will aided them to be in
control of their own destinies.
 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
Intentionalist
The school recognizes the roles played
by key individuals in history as they were
influenced by their intentions and
personalities thus, they acted on a
particular circumstance which led to the
unfolding of history. The intentions and
personalities are viewed as a factor that
results to historical change.
Example:
Hitler’s master plan created and caused
the Holocaust
Topic 2
Marxist
Economic forces are the main driving
force in historical change. Karl Marx
relied heavily upon statistical data to
show that exploitation and class conflict
drove history.
Example:
1. Studies of the Peasants’ Revolt which
focus on prices of bread and
declining wages.
2. American Revolution
 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
Structuralist Post Modernist
The Structuralist on the other hand In contrast to the Historicist, the Post
believes in the role of political and Modernist was developed in the late 20th
military structures in shaping history. century. As a school of historiography,
This school of historiography emphasize Post Modernist is strongly influenced by
that historical events happened due to Foucault when he disputed that all
the existing political and military sources are biased, incomplete and
structures. language itself has no fixed meaning,
therefore the past cannot be known. The
Example Post Modernist subscribe to the belief
1. City States of Italian Renaissance that all interpretations of history are
2. Absence of Church allowed valid.
Renaissance to flourish
*See C1-Topic 2B before proceeding to the next slide
Topic 2
 REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
Archives
Archives are the documentary by-product of
human activity retained for their long-term
value.

They are contemporary records created by

individuals and organizations as they go about
their business and therefore provide a direct
window on past events. They can come in a
wide range of formats including written,
photographic, moving image, sound, digital and
analogue.
Pambansang Sinupunan ng Pilipinas
Archives are held by public and private National Archives of the Philippines
institutions and individuals around the world. Source: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/377528381245643647/
Topic 2
 REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SPURCES
Library
A library is a collection of resources in a
variety of formats that is
(1) organized by information professionals or
other experts who
(2) provide convenient physical, digital,
bibliographic, or intellectual access and
(3) offer targeted services and programs
(4) with the mission of educating, informing,
or entertaining a variety of audiences
(5) and the goal of stimulating individual
learning and advancing society as a
whole Pambansang Aklatan ng Pilipinas
-George Eberhart National Library of the Philippines
Source: https://getwaylib.wordpress.com/
Topic 2
 REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SPURCES
Historical Society
A group of people who work to preserve
the history of a place.
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary

A historical society is an organization that

collects, researches, interprets and
preserves information or items of historical
interest. They often preserve historic
architecture and maintain period houses for
tour. Many historical societies publish Kapisanang Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas
journals or maintain museums to showcase Philippine Historical Association
their field of study. Source: https://pnhs1941.org/
-Definition Dictionary
Topic 2
 REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SPURCES

Museum

Non-profit, permanent institution in the

service of society and its development,
open to the public, which acquires,
conserves, researches, communicates and
exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage
of humanity and its environment for the
purposes of education, study and
enjoyment.
-International Council of Museums Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas
National Library of the Philippines
Source: https://getwaylib.wordpress.com/
Topic 2
 REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SPURCES
Special Collection

A special collection is a group of items,

such as rare books or documents, that are
either irreplaceable or unusually rare and
valuable. For this reason special collections
are stored separately from the regular
library collections in a secure location with
environmental controls to preserve the
items for posterity. Special collections are
created to benefit scholars by grouping Albert and Shirley Small Special Collection
related materials together in one University of Virginia
repository. Source:
https://www.hartmancox.com/albert-shirley-small-
special-collections-library
Topic 2
 REFERENCES

1. Candelaria, J. L. P. and Alphora, V. C. 2018. Readings in Philippine History. Quezon City, REX Printing
Company, Inc.
2. Definition of a Library. 2019: General Definition. 2019, March 18. Retrieved from
https://libguides.ala.org/library-definition
3. Duquette, David. 2019. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Philosophy of History.
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396577/obo-9780195396577-0133.xml
4. Llewellyn, Jennifer and Thompson, Steve. 2019, Novermber. What is Historiography? Retrieved from
https://alphahistory.com/what-is-historiography/
5. Mandavilli, Sujay Rao. 2015. Historiography by Objectives: A new approach for the study of history within the
framework of the proposed Twenty-First Century School of Historiography. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275950182_Historiography_by_Objectives_A_new_approach_for_t
he_study_of_history_within_the_framework_of_the_proposed_Twenty-
First_Century_School_of_Historiography
6. Sanchez-Marcos, Fernando. 2020. What is Historiography? Retrieved from http://culturahistorica.org/what-is-
historiography/
7. The Annales School. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://individual.utoronto.ca/bmclean/hermeneutics/braudel_suppl/annales_school_dir.htm
8. What are archives? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ica.org/en/what-archive
 REFERENCES

10. [Beautiful and Minimalist Presentation Backgrounds]. (n.d.)https://www.keplertech.ae/product-

category/citizen-photo-printer/
11. Historical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historical%20society
12. Historical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.definitions.net/definition/historical+society
13. Primary Sources in Archives and Special Collections: What is Special Collection? (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/c.php?g=352889&p=2378065
14. [Wooden gold leaf picture frame]. (n.d.). http://freepngimages.com/wooden-gold-leaf-picture-frame/
Credits:
Images by Freepik and Prof. Ruby Ann Ayo for sharing the ppt of Dr. Ma. Florina Orillos-Juan (Historical Method)

SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS

1. Evaluating Primary and Secondary Sources: An Online Tutorial. 2013. Retrieved from https://nlj.gov.jm/wp-
content/uploads/2017/03/Evaluating-Primary-and-Secondary-Sources.pdf
2. Ocampo, Ambeth. 2019, January 30. Philippine History from primary sources. Retrieved from
https://opinion.inquirer.net/119205/philippine-history-from-primary-sources