Readings In Philippine Lesson 1
History
HISTORY
 study and interpretation by a historian
on the data and other source of the past
human activity, people, societies and
civilizations leading to the present day.
CONCEPT OF HISTORY
 Based on past events.
 Interpreted by someone usually by
historian.
 Rely on data and documents which
historian call as historical sources.
HISTORY’S SUBJECT MATTER
 The subject matter of history is the life of
people and humanity.
 The word History greek word “History” –
Inquiry
 denotes asking question or investigation
of the past done by person trained to do
so or by persons who are interested in
human past.
HISTORY AND HISTORIAN
 Historian – an expert or student of
history, especially of that particular
period, geographical period or social
phenomenon
DUTIES OF HISTORIAN
 seek not only historical evidence and
facts but also to interpret these facts.
 also gives meaning to these facts and
organizes them chronologically.
 A person who must be able to recognize
the evidence, decide how useful it is and
come to conclusion based on what he has
found out.
 In reconstructing the past, a historian can
be subjective (biased or opinionated)
SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF HISTORY
 Historians can be subjective sometimes (can
be influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or
opinions).
 Different point of views can result to the
subjective nature of history.
HISTORIOGRAPHY
 Is the study of how history was written, by
whom and why it was recorded as such.
 It is concerned with how historians have
presented history.
 The study of historical writing – how and
why historical accounts and perspectives
have changed over time.
 Interpretation about the past can be objective
or true as long as they are free of inherent
contradictions, are not contrary to the laws of
nature and are based on actual remains
from the time period referred to.
 There should also a scientific discourse
among historians on a particular
controversial event.
 One big advantage of historiography is that
the liars of history are usually quite
transparent.
 Another way for a historian to be objective is
to follow the historical method. It is the
core protocols historians’ use for handling
sources.
 An objective historian must verify sources,
to date them, locate the place of origin and
identify their intended functions.
SOURCES OF HISTORY
 Primary
 Secondary
 Tertiary
PRIMARY SOURCES
 A primary source is a testimony of an
individual who was a participant in or a
direct witness to the event that is being
described.
 Categories of Primary Sources:
 Written sources
 Numerical records
 Oral statements
 Relics
 Diaries and Journals
 Eyewitness accounts
 Speeches
 Essays by persons expressing his own view
SECONDARY SOURCES
 A secondary source interprets and analyzes
primary sources.
 It is prepared by an individual who was not
direct witness to an event, but
not who obtained his or her description of
the event from someone else.
 Secondary sources may have pictures, votes
or graphics of primary sources in them.
 Types of Secondary Sources:
 Textbooks
 Printed materials
 Biographies
 Encyclopedia
 Magazine
TERTIARY SOURCES
 It provides third hand information by
reporting ideas and details from secondary
source.
 An eyewitness is more reliable than
testimony at second hand, which is more
reliable than hearsay or tertiary sources.
 However, this does not mean that tertiary
sources have no value, merely that they
include potential for an additional layer of
bias.
 EXAMPLES OF TERTIARY SOURCES:
 Research
 Thesis
Lesson 2
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
 Also known as the historical-critical method
 A branch of criticism that investigates the
origin of text or source in order to
understand the word behind the text.
 has also often sought answers to the ever-
elusive question of what is called ‘’authorial
intent’’: What did the author intend for this
text to mean in his or her time and place?
GOAL OF HISTORICAL CRITICISM
 The primary goal of historical criticism is to
discover the text primitive or original
historical context and its literal sense.
 The secondary goal seeks establish a
reconstruction of historical situation of the
author and recipients of the text.
 ANSWERS ABOUT THE TEXT SUCH AS:
 who wrote it?
 when was it written?
 what else happening at the time of its
writing?
 how did it come to be in the form we have it
today?
 what did it mean to the people who first read
or heard it?
EXTERNAL CRITICISM
 This type of criticism looks for the obvious
sign of forgery or misrepresentation.
 This type of criticism tests the authenticity of
the sources.
 The historian also analyzes the original
manuscript; its integrity, localization and the
date it was written.
TEST OF AUTHENTICITY
 determine the date of document to see
whether it is anachronistic.
 determine the author’s handwriting,
signature or seal.
  determining the authenticity of the source is
by looking for the anachronistic style
 Anachronistic reference to events (too early,
too late)
 Provenance or custody.
SEMANTIC
 The linguistic study of meaning.
 In test semantics, it determines the meaning
of the text and words of the source.
HERMENEUTICS
 The theory and methodology of
interpretation.
 It is than interpretation or method used when
immediate comprehension fails.
INTERNAL CRITICISM
 Looks for deeper or more intense study of
sources.
 Internal criticism has to do with what the
document says.
 Investigate the content or substance of a
document and the author’s point of view.
 This type of criticism tests the credibility of
the source.
TEST CREDIBILITY
 Identification of the author.
 Determine the approximate date.
 Test the ability to tell the truth.
 Test the willingness to tell the truth.
Lesson 3
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR/CREATOR
 The researcher must provide brief
biographical sketch of the author or
creator the primary source.
 Example/s:
 Age
 Family background
 Educational attainment
 Religion
BACKGROUND OF THE
DOCUMENT/PRIMARY SOURCES
 The type of primary source, how many parts
or chapter, how long is the document shall be
given attention.
 Locate where the primary source can be
found.
 Determine also the intended audience or the
people the author wants to convey their ideas
with.
 Look for the purpose or motive of the source.
CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOUND IN THE DOCUMENT
 Look for corroboration between the research
you gather from the internet and the primary
source that your instructor has given to you.
 In order to analyze the primary source, look
for bias. There are two kinds of bias: either it
is strongly positive (strongly in favor of) or
strongly negative (strongly against).
 Analyze the historical perspective or a point
of view a creator describe the event.
 Last task is to analyze the historical context
of the document. To determine historical
context, we must look when the source is
made. Next is where was it created. Third,
what event occurred at the time
CONTRIBUTION AND RELEVANCE OF THE
DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING THE
GRAND NARRATIVE OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY
 Look for the cause and consequences of the

primary sources.
In this part of the analysis look also for the
turning point or dramatic moment of change
that was cause by the event or primary
source.
RELEVANCE OF THE DOCUMENTS TO THE
PRESENT TIME
 Look for the historical significance or what
modern people consider to be important from
the past.
 How to determine significance of the event?
NAME:
 Novelty – something is new or never been
seen before.
 Applicability – when it is similar to the
present.
 Memory – how it has been remembered over
time.
 Effect – how people have been affected
Notes:
Baka kulang don sa may course rationale (lesson 3)