Definition of History  George Santayana: A philosopher who highlighted

the consequences of forgetting history, emphasizing

 Origin: The term "history" comes from the Greek its role in guiding societal behavior.
historia, meaning knowledge gained through
investigation. It has existed as a discipline for about Understanding History
2,400 years.
 Traditional View: Historically, history was defined  Nature of Historical Truth: Historians grapple with
as the account of the past based on written whether an absolute historical truth is possible, given
documents, emphasizing the principle "no document, that history cannot be accessed directly. Instead, they
no history." work with representations of the past through various
sources.
 Role of Historians: Historians act as arbiters of  Subjectivity of Historians: Historians interpret
facts, striving for truthful interpretations and historical facts influenced by their personal contexts,
narratives. Their task is deemed a calling to present ideologies, and backgrounds, making history
history faithfully. inherently subjective.

Expansion of Historical Sources Methodology in Historical Research

 Beyond Written Records: Traditional historians  Scientific Approach: Despite the challenges of
often overlooked cultures without written records, objectivity, history remains a rigorous academic
such as oral traditions. This perspective has shifted, discipline due to the methodological techniques
recognizing that other forms of evidence (e.g., historians use.
artifacts, oral histories) are valid historical sources.  Validation of Sources: Historians must employ both
 Inclusivity: Historians now employ diverse external and internal criticisms to assess the
methodologies, including archaeology, linguistics, authenticity and truthfulness of historical sources.
and even genetics, to broaden the understanding of
history. Types of Historical Sources

Questions in History  Primary Sources: Original materials created during

the time being studied (e.g., minutes from historical
 Clarifying Concepts: Key questions arise, such as: events, photographs).

1. What is history? o Example: For studying the Commonwealth

2. Why study it? Constitution Convention of 1935, primary
sources would include convention records
3. For whom is it relevant? and eyewitness accounts.
 Historiography: This refers to the study of how
 Secondary Sources: Works produced by authors
history is written and understood, prompting critical
who analyze primary sources (e.g., Teodoro
analysis of historical texts, authors, and contexts.
Agoncillo’s Revolt of the Masses).
Social Function of History
o Example: Agoncillo used primary sources
like documents and interviews for his book
 Nation-Building and Memory: History serves as a on the Philippine Revolution.
tool for uniting nations and legitimizing regimes.
George Santayana's quote underscores the
Critique of Sources
importance of remembering the past to avoid
repeating mistakes.
 Learning from the Past: Understanding historical  External Criticism: Verifying the authenticity of
lessons can guide contemporary decision-making and evidence by examining its physical characteristics
foster progress. and context.
 Internal Criticism: Analyzing the content and
truthfulness of a source, including the author's
Objectivity in Historical Research
agenda and intended purposes.
 Challenges of Bias: While absolute objectivity is
Case Studies of Deception
unattainable, historians employ rigorous
methodologies to ensure credibility. Conflicting
accounts require careful validation through  Code of Kalantiaw: A fraudulent historical
corroborative sources. document debunked by William Henry Scott,
 Example of Research Rigor: A historian studying emphasizing the need for thorough verification in
the Manobo tribe would validate oral accounts by historical research.
comparing them with written documents to ensure  Ferdinand Marcos’s War Claims: Claims of
accuracy and reliability. Marcos as a decorated soldier were disproven
 through examination of war records, illustrating the 2) Where was it? It was in Italy. It is now in the Louvre
pitfalls of accepting unverified historical narratives. gallery, Paris
3) Where was it made? It was made in Italy by Leonardo da
Role of the Historian Vinci in 1506.
4) Where was it used? It was used to hang on a wall for
 Selecting Relevant Sources: Historians must choose decoration.
the most meaningful sources to construct a coherent
narrative. Lastly, the signing of the first Magna Carta by King John.
 Ongoing Inquiry: The study of history is never Actually, many have questioned the importance of this event
complete, as it evolves with ongoing questions and in history. This is the mother of all magna cartas in the world!
discoveries. Historians play a crucial role in
interpreting the past for contemporary relevance. Below are questions that could spark the interest of anyone if
 It is the job of the historian to give meaning to the the historian could recreate what really happened that day by
facts and organize them into a timeline, establish providing some essential markers for such narrative. To wit:
causes, and write history. 1) When was it made? It was made in 1215.
2) When was it used? It was used in 1215 to force King
John to grant concessions to the barons.
Significant Contributors 3) What is being depicted in the portrait? It shows the
feelings of the barons in 1215.
 William Henry Scott: An American historian who
debunked the hoax of the Code of Kalantiaw, WHAT?
highlighting the importance of rigorous historical
research. For Example: WHAT is it? WHAT is it for? WHAT does it
 Teodoro Agoncillo: A historian whose work on the say? WHAT was it used for? WHAT does it show?
Philippine Revolution serves as a significant
secondary source, showcasing the connection A book about the Tudors written in 1999.
between primary and secondary research.
What is it? It is a book about the Tudors who ruled
Questions for Historical Inquiry Historians employ critical England from 1485 to 1603.
questioning to extract information from both primary and What is it for? It is for people to read/ find out about the
secondary sources. Key questions include: Tudors. Henry the VII became king after the battle of
Bosworth field, which ended the War of the Roses. He was
followed by his son, Henry VIII, who married six times
1. Who: Who created or is depicted in the source?
and beheaded two of his wives.
2. Where: Where was it made or where is it located? What was it used for? It is still being used.
3. What: What is the content or subject matter? What does it show? It shows that people are interested in
4. When: When was it created or used? the Tudors.
5. How: How was it produced or utilized?
6. Why: Why was it created or why does it matter? HOW?

For Example: HOW was it made? HOW was it used? How

Examples of Application has it survived?

Below are collected artefacts used by a certain group of A mug made in 2005
powerful people of a bygone era.
How was it made? It was made in a factory - there may be
In this regard, a historian may ask the following questions: a stamp on the base of the mug that gives details of the
1) Who made it?; 2) Who used it?; 3) Who is in the picture?; factory or potter.
4) Whose opinion does it show? How was it used? It was/is used for people to drink hot
beverages from.
Based on these questions, a host of pertinent answers may be How has it survived? It has survived because it was made
obtained respectively. To wit: this year.
1) Who made it? The Romans in AD 45.
2) Who used it? The Romans.
3) Who is in the picture? The head on the coins show who
was emperor. Philippine historiography examines how history has been
4) Whose opinion does it show? The emperor and his written and interpreted in the Philippines, reflecting a complex
government. and dynamic narrative shaped by colonial rule, revolutions,
and social change.
Another example is the Monalisa. Of course, there are many
ways by which we can appreciate this great work of art. But, 1. Colonial Narratives
this too can be used for our historical inquiry.
 Early accounts of Philippine history were
By using the where question, we can generate the following
predominantly written by Spanish colonizers,
bits of information. To wit:
exemplified by:
1) Where is it? It is in the Louvre art gallery, Paris.
 o Antonio de Morga: Author of Historia The 6 C’s:
General de Filipinas, providing insights into
pre-colonial Philippines but infused with  CONTENT: Describe what you see in detail to each
Eurocentric biases. other
o William Henry Scott: Author of Barangay:  CITATION: Who created the text? When was the text
A Philippine Saga, which, while valuable, created?
also reflected colonial perspectives that  CONTEXT: What was going on in the world when the
depicted Filipinos as primitive. text was created?
o These narratives often portrayed Filipinos as  CONNECTIONS: Can the source be linked to other
primitive and uncivilized, emphasizing the things you already know or have learned about?
civilizing mission of Spain.  COMMUNICATION: How does the source express
point-of-view?
2. Nationalist Historiography – Circle or highlight words or images that provide
EVIDENCE of emotion or persuasion
 CONCLUSION: How does this source contribute to our
 The rise of Filipino nationalism in the late 19th understanding of history?
century sparked a counter-narrative to colonial
accounts:
o José Rizal: A key figure who challenged
colonial narratives and emphasized Filipino
identity and heritage.
o Emilio Jacinto: Contributed to the
nationalist perspective by highlighting the
struggle against Spanish oppression.
 This shift emphasized self-determination and the
pursuit of independence.

3. Post-Colonial Historiography

 Marked by a significant re-evaluation of Philippine

history, with a focus on ordinary people's
experiences:
o Ambeth Ocampo: His work, Rizal Without
the Overcoat, provides a nuanced view of
José Rizal’s life.
o Reynaldo Ileto: In Pasyon and Revolution,
he examines how popular religious beliefs
influenced the Philippine Revolution.
 Emergence of "New Philippine History," which
emphasizes primary sources and interdisciplinary
approaches:

o David Joel Steinberg and Alfred McCoy:

Focused on the impacts of US colonialism
and the Cold War on Philippine society.

Contemporary Debates and Challenges

 Objectivity vs. Interpretation: Ongoing debates

concern whether history can be purely objective or if
all historical writing is inherently subjective,
influenced by the historian's perspective.
 Access to Primary Sources: Historians often face
challenges in accessing primary sources, particularly
from the pre-colonial era, which can lead to reliance
on potentially biased secondary sources.
 Current Issues: Ongoing conflicts, such as those in
Mindanao, and the rise of social media have further
complicated the understanding and writing of
Philippine history.
Definition of History Who wrote it?
The author's background and perspective can shape the
History is defined as the study of the past, derived from the interpretation of events.
Greek word historia, which means knowledge acquired
through investigation. It has existed as a discipline for about What was the context of its publication?
2,400 years, focusing on accounts of individuals or groups Understanding the circumstances surrounding the publication
through written documents and historical evidence. can inform the text’s significance and intent.

Subject Matter of History What historical method was employed?

Different methodologies can lead to varied interpretations of
the same events.
The subject matter of history includes:
What sources were used?
1. Historical Evidence: Examining written documents, Identifying the sources helps assess the validity and reliability
oral traditions, artifacts, and other forms of evidence of historical claims.
to understand the past.
2. Interpretation and Narrative: Historians interpret Social Functions of History
facts and present narratives based on their
investigations. History serves important social functions:
3. Focus Areas: Traditionally, history has concentrated
on significant individuals (like monarchs and heroes)
 Nation Building: States use history to foster national
and major events (wars, revolutions).
unity and a collective memory.
4. Inclusivity: Modern history recognizes the validity  Legitimization of Regimes: Historical narratives can
of non-written sources, such as oral traditions and support or challenge political power structures.
artifacts, to include diverse perspectives and  Learning from the Past: Historical lessons can
societies. guide present and future actions, as articulated by
5. Interdisciplinary Connections: History interacts George Santayana’s famous quote about the
with other fields like archaeology, linguistics, and consequences of forgetting the past.
biology to provide a richer understanding of past
societies. Objectivity and Methodology

Questions and Issues in History A critical issue in history is the quest for objectivity:

History is a complex and evolving discipline that raises Can historians achieve absolute objectivity?
several important questions and issues, which can be explored While complete objectivity is challenging, historians strive for
through the lens of historiography—the study of how history rigor in research methodologies to minimize bias.
is written and understood. Here are the key questions and
issues highlighted in the text: Historical Methodology:
This includes techniques for evaluating sources, resolving
What is History? conflicting accounts, and treating oral histories as valid
This foundational question invites exploration of the nature evidence.
and purpose of historical study.
Historians must validate their claims by corroborating
Why Study History? different sources, ensuring that their conclusions are
Understanding the relevance of history in contemporary supported by reliable evidence. Despite inevitable biases,
society helps justify its importance in education and public rigorous methodology allows for a balanced and critical
discourse. approach to historical writing.

History for Whom? By engaging with these questions and issues, students of
This question prompts a discussion about the audience and history can develop a more nuanced understanding of the past
purpose of historical narratives. Who benefits from history, and its implications for the present and future.
and whose stories are told?
History and the Historian
Historiography's Role
Key Points:
Historiography helps to clarify the methods and contexts
behind historical texts. Key questions include:
Questions of Objectivity:
How was a certain historical text written?
1. Is it possible to achieve an absolute historical truth?
Examining the writing process reveals biases and influences
2. Can history be considered an objective discipline?
on historical narratives.

These questions have challenged historians for generations.

Access to the Past:

Historians cannot directly access the past; they rely on

representations through historical sources and evidence.

Role of the Historian:

1. Interpretation of Facts: Historians must interpret

historical facts, as “facts cannot speak for themselves.”
2. Organizing Information: They organize facts into
timelines, establish causes, and create narratives.

Influence of Context:

1. A historian's interpretation is shaped by their own context,

including ideology, education, and personal influences.
2. This subjectivity affects methodology, the selection of
facts, interpretation, and writing style.

Scientific Inquiry:

1. Despite the challenges of achieving objectivity, history

remains a scientific discipline due to rigorous research
methods.
2. Historians follow specific methodologies to evaluate
sources, handle conflicting accounts, and validate evidence.

Roles of a Historian:

Researcher: Historians gather and analyze various historical

sources and evidence to construct an understanding of the
past.

Interpreter: They provide meaning to historical facts,

explaining their significance and context, and weaving them
into coherent narratives.

Contextual Analyzer: Historians must recognize how their

own background influences their interpretation and strive for a
balanced perspective.

Methodologist: They adhere to strict methodologies to ensure

their research is credible, employing techniques to validate
sources and claims.

Writer: Historians communicate their findings through

written narratives, shaping public understanding of history
while considering their own biases.

In summary, historians play a critical role in shaping our

understanding of the past, navigating the complexities of
subjectivity and methodology to provide informed
interpretations. Their work highlights the importance of
rigorous research while acknowledging the influence of
personal context on historical narratives.