HISTORICAL METHOD
HISTORICAL SOURCES
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
HISTORY
Greek word “historia”
Learning by inquiry
What are the limitations of
historical knowledge?
OUTLINE OF DISCUSSION
I.History as Reconstruction
II.The Historical Method
III.Historical Sources [Written and Non-
written; Primary and Secondary]
IV.Historical Criticism [External and Internal]
INTRODUCTION: HISTORY AS
RECONSTRUCTION
The historian is many times removed from
the events under investigation
Historians rely on surviving records
HISTORY AS RECONSTRUCTION
“Only a part of what was observed in the past was
remembered by those who observed it; only a part
of what was remembered was recorded; only a part
of what was recorded has survived; only a part of
what has survived has come to the historian’s
attention.”
Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History
HISTORY AS RECONSTRUCTION
“Only a part of what is credible has been
grasped, and only a part of what has been
grasped can be expounded or narrated by
the historian.”
Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History
WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL METHOD?
Historians have to verify sources, to date
them, locate their place of origin and
identify their intended functions
WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL METHOD?
The process of critically examining and
analyzing the records and survivals of the past
HISTORICAL SOURCES
Sources
an object from the past or testimony concerning the past on which
historians depend in order to create their own depiction of that past.
Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an Introduction to
Historical Method
Tangible remains of the past
Anthony Brundage, Going to Sources
WRITTEN SOURCES
Published materials
Books, magazines, journals,
Travelogue
transcription of speech
Manuscript [any handwritten or typed record that has not been
printed]
Archival materials
Memoirs, diary
NON-WRITTEN SOURCES
Oral
Artifact Ruins Fossils
history
Video Audio
Art works
recordings recordings
WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?
Testimony of an eyewitness
A primary source must have been produced
by a contemporary of the event it narrates
WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?
A primary source is a document or physical
object which was written or created during
the time under study.
These sources were present during an
experience or time period and offer an
inside view of a particular event.
WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?
Primary sources are characterized by their
content, regardless of whether they are
available in original format, in
microfilm/microfiche, in digital format,
or in published format.
FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
1. Written 3.
2. Images
sources Artifacts
4. Oral
testimony
WHAT ARE SECONDARY SOURCES?
A secondary source interprets and analyzes
primary sources. These sources are one or
more steps removed from the event.
Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or
graphics of primary sources in them.
WHAT ARE SECONDARY SOURCES?
Examples:
History textbook
Printed materials (serials, periodicals which
interprets previous research)
ASSIGNMENT
Topic: Tejeros Convention
Primary Source: Santiago Alvarez’ account (only the
chapter 32)
Secondary Source: Teodoro Agoncillo’s Revolt of the Masses
Answer the last page of the photocopy
*Get the copy at the Paraguas
WHAT DO HISTORIANS DEAL WITH?
Dynamic or genetic (the becoming)
Static (the being)
WHAT IS THE AIM?
Interpretative
Descriptive
WRITTEN SOURCES
Narrative Diplomatic Social
or literary or juridical documents
NON-WRITTEN SOURCES
Material
Oral evidence
evidence
WHAT IS HISTORICAL CRITICISM?
In order for a source to be used as evidence
in history, basic matters about its form and
content must be settled
External Criticism
Internal Criticism
INTERNAL CRITICISM
Determines the historicity of facts contained in
the document.
The value of facts, the character of the sources,
the knowledge of author, and the influences
prevalent at the time of writing must be carefully
investigated.
WHAT IS EXTERNAL CRITICISM?
The problem of authenticity
To spot fabricated, forged, faked
documents
To distinguish a hoax or misrepresentation
TESTS OF AUTHENTICITY
Determine the date of the document to see
whether they are anachronistic
e.g. pencils did not exist before the 16th Century
Determine the author
e.g. handwriting, signature, seal
TESTS OF AUTHENTICITY
Anachronistic style
e.g. idiom, ortography, punctuation
Anachronistic reference to events
e.g. too early, too late, too remote
Provenance or custody
e.g. determines its genuineness
FORMAT
Author’s Background
Historical Context of the Document
Analysis of the Important Historical Information Found in the
Document
Contribution of the Document in Understanding the Grand
Narrative in Philippine History
Relevance of the Document
1. What are the benefits of using primary sources?
2. Do you affirm that primary sources are superior to
secondary sources? Explain?
3. What are the advantages of accessing secondary sources?
4. What are the disadvantages of accessing secondary
sources?
