Course Code and Title: GE102 – Readings In Philippine History

Lesson Number: 1
Topic: The Meaning And Relevance Of History
Definition, Issues, Sources, & Methodology
Professor: Juanito A. Teves
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
 Analyze the meaning of history as an academic discipline and be familiar with the
discipline's underlying philosophy and methodology.
 Define primary and secondary sources.
 Differentiate primary and secondary sources of historical records.
 Appreciate the importance of history in the social and national life of the Philippines.
 Display a full understanding of the course objectives.

Pre-Assessment
Direction. The diagram below shows the definition of terms related to sources. Rewrite each of
them in your own words on the spaced provided.

Primary – not made or coming Firsthand – coming directly from

from something else; original the source.
______________________________ _________________________________
______________________________ _________________________________
______________________________ ______________________________

Source – a person, publication,

or object that gives information
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

Secondary – coming from or Secondhand – not original; taken

created using a source
__________________________________
__________________________________
_______________________________
from someone or something else
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
_
LESSON PRESENTATION
This chapter introduces history as a discipline and as a narrative. It presents the definition
of history, which transcends the conventional definition of history as the study of the past. This
chapter also discusses several issues in history that consequently opens up for the theoretical
aspects of the discipline. The distinction between primary and secondary sources is also
discussed concerning the historical subject matter being studied and the historical methodology
employed by the historian.
Since the beginning History has always been known as a study of the past. History was
originally derived from the Greek word historia, which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry
or investigation.” History, as a discipline, existed for 2,400 years and is as old as mathematics and
philosophy. This term was then adapted to classical Latin, where it acquired a new definition.
Historia became known as the account of a person's past or a group of people through
written documents and historical shreds of evidence.
History became a relevant academic discipline. It became the historian's duty to write
about the lives of significant individuals like monarchs, heroes, saints, and nobilities. History was
also focused on writing about wars, revolutions, and other significant breakthroughs. It is thus
important to ask: What counts as history? Traditional historians has always lived with the mantra
of “no document, no history.” This means that unless a written document can prove a particular
historical event, then it cannot be considered as a historical fact.
However, like any other academic discipline, history progressed and opened up to valid
historical sources, which were not limited to written documents, like government records,
chronicler's accounts, or personal letters.

Why study history? "A future with your past."

History will give you a combination of insights and skills that will help you to:
• prepare you for work.
• Enable you to participate fully in society.
• Develop you as a person. -John Redmond, 1893
• History is very relevant to modern life.
Historical events inspire • Many books, films, and plays
.

• A lot of people enjoy history as a hobby, as indicated in the popularity of history

books, documentaries, and films. -Michael Collins Arthur Griffith
• History also aids us in understanding many issues that presently affects the world.
• By widening your knowledge of current affairs, you develop yourself.
personally and prepare yourself more fully for adult and working life.
 • History is unique since it investigates how human life and its environment has changed
with time.
• History allows one to develop his understanding of change through the perspectives of
political, social, cultural, economic, religious, and scientific history. -Michael
Collins, Apollo 11

Relevance to our life

• develops an appreciation of the society in which you live and other
societies, past and present.
• develops a greater awareness of your own identity and traditions.
• learns more about the particular role of women in shaping the past. –
Mary Robinson Hanna Sheehy Skeffington

Questions and Issues in History

History as a discipline has already turned into a complex and dynamic inquiry. This
dynamism inevitably produced various perspectives on the discipline regarding different questions
like: What is history? Why study history? And history for whom. These questions can be answered
by historiography. In simple terms, historiography is the history of history. History and
historiography should not be confused with each other. The former's object of study in the past,
the events that happened in the past, and the causes of such events. The latter's object of study,
on the other hand, is history itself (i.e., How was a particular historical text written? Who
wrote it? What was the context of its publication? What particular historical methods were
employed? were the sources used?). Thus, historiography lets the students have a better
understanding of history. They not only get to learn historical facts, but they are also provided with
the understanding of the facts' and the historian's contexts.

Historical Schools of Thought

1. Positivism - is the school of thought that emerged between the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries. This thought requires aempirical and observable evidence before one can
claim that particular knowledge is right. It entails an objective means of concluding. The
mantra “no document, no history” and also expected to be objective and impartial.
 2. Postcolonialism – is a school of thought that emerged in the early twentieth century.
Postcolonial history looks at two things in writing history: 1. to expose the history of their
country that will highlight their identity free from colonial knowledge and discourse, and 2.
to criticize the idea, effects, and methods of colonialism. It is a reaction and alternative to
colonial history.

3. Annales School of History – is a school of history originated in France that challenged

canons of history. This school of thought made its way with the usual historical subjects that
were at most always related to the ways of states and monarchs. They advocated that the
people and classes who were not grandly reflected in society's history be provided
with space in the records of humanity.

Historical Sources
In general, historical sources can be classified as either primary or a secondary source. The
classification of sources on these two categories depends on the historical subject being studied.
Primary sources of hhistory are those sources produced at the same time as the event,
period, or subject being studied. For example, the Commonwealth Constitution Convention of
1935 - primary sources can include the minutes of the convention, Philippine Commission reports
of the U.S. Commissioners, records of the convention, the draft of the Constitution, newspaper
clippings, and even photographs of the events. Eyewitness accounts of the convention delegates
and their memoirs are also be used as primary sources. Archival documents, artifacts, census,
memorabilia, letters, and government records are the most common examples of primary
sources.

Secondary sources are sources produced by an author who used primary sources to
produce the materials. Secondary sources history are historical sources, which studied a particular
historical subject. For example, the Philippine Revolution of 1896 - students can read Teodoro
Agoncillo's Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan published initially been
in 1956. The Philippine Revolution happened in the last years of the nineteenth century. Agoncillo
published his work in 1956, which made the Revolt of the Masses a secondary source.

Both primary and secondary sources are useful in writing and learning history. However, historians
and students of history need to thoroughly scrutinize these historical sources to avoid deception
and to come up with the historical truth.
Therefore, primary and secondary sources should be evaluated. Suppose the evaluation of an
available source shows any indication that it is an interpretative work rather than a factual firsthand
account. In that case, it is considered a secondary source. Thus, in conducting historical research,
it is essential first to identify whether the available sources are primary or secondary; this is to
determine how reliable and helpful they are.
Examples of historical sources:

SUMMARY
History refers to knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation. An account of the
past of a person or a group of people through written documents and historical evidence. History
also focused on writing about wars, revolutions, and other significant breakthroughs. The mantra
of "no document, no history" means that unless a written document can prove a particular
historical event, then it cannot be considered as a historical fact. Like any other academic
discipline, history developed and opened up to the possibility of valid historical sources, that were
not limited to written documents, like government records, chronicler's accounts, or personal
letters.

Historiography is the history of history. It covers how historians have studied and developed
history, including its sources, techniques, and theoretical approaches. It focuses on how a
particular historical text was written, who wrote it, the context of its publication, what historical
method was employed, and what sources were used. In general, historical sources can be
classified between primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are considered as
contemporary accounts of an event, personally written or narrated by a person who directly
experienced or participated in the said event. On the other hand, secondary sources serve as
interpretations or readings of primary sources. Both sources, the primary and secondary sources
are useful in writing and learning history.
ASSIGNMENT
Direction: Using any social media site, ask your friends to share their opinions on whether
President Rodrigo Duterte in an elite president or a populist president. Afterward, screenshot,
print, cut, and stick five responses to either be a primary or secondary source. Indicate whether
the response is a primary or secondary source of information. Justify why each response is a
primary or secondary source.
Response 1. _____________________________________________________
Response 2. _____________________________________________________
Response 3. _____________________________________________________
Response 4. _____________________________________________________
Response 5. _____________________________________________________

Grading Rubric
For a five-point essay:
5 – Used many details thoroughly and expertly; applied integrated concepts;
made connections between facts and ideas.
4 – Used many details to illustrate the topic; clearly understood the topic well.
3 – Used some details to illustrate the topic; understood topic
2 – Used one or two details, alluded to details vaguely; followed directions, had a basic
knowledge of the topic.
1 – Used no historical details, made factual errors; thinking not justified, no evidence that
knowledge was acquired.
0 – No attempt to answer the question was made.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
To know more about the differences between Primary and Secondary Sources. Kindly access the
link provided: https://eac.libguides.com/c.php?g=623210&p=4784148

REFERENCES
 Candelaria, J., & Alporha V. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Manila: Rex Book
Store, Inc.
 Asuncion, N. et al. ((2019). Readings in Philippine History. Quezon City: C & E Publishing,
Inc.