Readings in Philippine History documents, like government record, Historiography helps us to have a better
chronicler’s accounts or personal letters. understanding of history.
History was derived from the Greek word Restricting historical evidence as
‘historia’, which means KNOWLEDGE exclusively written is also They do not only get to learn historical facts, but
ACQUIRED THROUGH INQUIRY OR discriminating against other social they are also provided with the understanding of
INVESTIGATION. classes who were not recorded in the facts’ and the historian’s context.
As a discipline, it existed for around paper. Historiography is important for someone who
2,400 years and as old as mathematics Ex. Birth certificate studies history because it teaches us to be critical
and philosophy. in the lessons of history presented to us.
The term was then adapted to classical Archaeologists, Linguists, Scientists can help
Latin where it acquired a new definition. with the study of the past. In case there are conflicting accounts,
we go back to what is written to
Historia became now as the account of the validate.
past of a person or of a group of people While bias is inevitable, the historian
through written documents and historical But a more sensible definition of history is not can balance this out by relying to
evidences. only the record of the past that shows the evidences that back up his claim.
development and improvement of the society,
It became the historian’s duty to write nor an account of events presented Historical Sources
about the lives of important individuals chronologically.
like monarchs, heroes, saints, and The historian’s most important research
nobilities. But how these patterns influenced man’s ability tools are historical sources.
to cope up the challenges of his existence.
History was also focused on writing about We can classify them into Primary and
wars, revolution and other important Part 1:The Meaning and Relevance of History Secondary sources:
breakthroughs. Distinction of primary and secondary Primary sources
Traditional historians lived with the sources; external and internal criticism,
repositories of primary sources, and Are those sources produced at the same
mantra of “no document, no history.” time as the event, period, or subject
IT IS THE RECORD OF THE PAST different kinds of primary sources.
being studied.
MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE Historiography is the history of history.
PRESENT Ex. Commonwealth Constitution Convention
documented record of man and his History is the study of the past, the events that (primary sources are the minutes of the meeting
society happened in the past and the causes of such of the convention, newspaper clippings, records
Unless a written document can prove a events. of the convention, etc.)
certain historical event, then it cannot be
Historiography is the history itself. 1. Autobiographies
considered as a historical fact.
2. Speeches
Written documents essential invalidates 1. How was a certain historical text 3. Essays by Persons expressing his own view
the history of other civilizations that do written? 4. Receipts
not keep written records. 2. Who wrote it? 5. Letter to the editor expressing the writer’s
But as any other academic disciplines, 3. What was the context of its publication? view
history progressed and opened up to the 4. What particular historical method was 6. Laws, ordinances, letters of instructions,
possibility of valid historical sources, employed? Decrees
which were not limited to written 5. What were the sources used? 7. Books containing direct quotations of the
Events And when it is made by persons who It is the historians task to organize the
8. Newspaper articles reporting directly about were actual eyewitnesses to the event or were its past that is being created so that it can
the event principal participants. offer lessons for nations, societies and
9. Diaries and journals civilization.
10. Reports Both primary and secondary sources are o seek for the meaning of
11. Eyewitness accounts useful in writing and learning history. recovering the past to let the
12. Letters people see the continuing
13. Editorials However, there is a need to thoroughly relevance of provenance,
14. Transcript of Records scrutinize these historical sources to avoid memory, remembering, and
deception and to come up with the historical understanding for both
Secondary Source historical truth. the present and the future.
are those which were produced by an Historians should be able to conduct an WHY DO WE STUDY HISTORY?
author who used primary sources to external and internal criticism of the
produce the material. source. Because it allows man to better
(In order to come up with this, he needs understand his present situation.
to go to the primary sources, even External criticism
interviews of veterans or persons is the practice of verifying the Writing and learning from history is the
involve in the event.) authenticity of evidence by examining only skill practiced and reserved for
its physical characteristics: humans.
Ex.: Revolt of the Masses by Teodoro
Agoncillo (Philippine Revolution of 1986) 1. Consistency with the historical Lower life forms may learn from
characteristic of the time when it was instinct.
1. Textbooks produced
2. Encyclopedia 2. and the material used for the But only man is capable of deriving
3. Magazine articles about a topic evidence. deeper meanings from history.
4. Teacher’s report on student behavior as (when examining a document, it
reported to school counsellors includes the quality of the paper, the Man uses history almost universally.
5. Reports from a person talking about the type of the ink, and the language and
subject matter words used in the material) Ex.
1. A doctor in treating his patients.
Primary source Materials are more Internal criticism 2. An engineer in constructing buildings (if
authoritative than secondary source is the examination of the truthfulness of the areas id prone to earthquakes or
the evidence. floods)
Primary source material becomes even Internal criticism looks at the 3. Lawyers need to study history of the
more important when its origin is closer truthfulness and factuality of the events in questions.
to the historical events and the evidence by looking at the: Personal
information contained therein can be 1. author of source, 1. fiancée (you want to know his/her
considered as pure and untainted. 2. its context, backgrounds) How many girlfriends did
3. the agenda behind the creation, he had. Even his family background, etc.
4. the knowledge which informed it, 2. Parents would want to know who are
5. and its intended purpose. your friends. (backgrounds)
3. even in workplace. One professional cannot 2. As a student of history, what do you
be welcomed by others because they had a think will be your “duties”?
“history.” 3. What role does history take in the study
of Philippine society, culture and
Not all histories are pleasant! identity?
Pleasant histories make us proud. Activity:
Research on what Teodoro Agoncillo, Reynaldo
Unpleasant memories, mistakes, failures, Lleto, and Renato Constantino said about
especially if they are tragic should be history. Do you agree with them? Share your
remembered so they will not be repeated. findings and opinions with the class.
“When experience is not retained, as among
savages, infancy is perpetual.” – George
Santayana
Knowing History therefore makes life
more bearable.
THE WORST ENEMY OF MAN IS TO
FORGET HISTORY. BECAUSE, he will forget
his own destiny and he will fall prey to outside
pressures and lose his own anchor of morality.
The worst possible enemy to society is
the man who --- is cut loose in his standards of
judgment from the past,
and universities which train men to use
their minds without carefully establishing the
connection of their thought with that of the past,
are instruments of social destructions.
Without history, society can be prepared like
trees without roots which can be washed away in
the next flood or storm.
Guide Questions
1. What is history? How is your
understanding of history different from
what is explained in this lesson?
