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Module 1 - Lesson 2

This document discusses key questions and issues in the study of history. It defines historiography as the history of history writing and how it provides context for historical facts and perspectives of historians. History serves different purposes for different groups, such as nation-building or justifying colonialism. The document also examines schools of thought in historiography like positivism, which requires empirical evidence, and postcolonialism, which aims to write history from the perspective of formerly colonized peoples and critique colonial rule. Finally, it addresses the issue that history is often told from the biased viewpoint of those in power.

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Lucy May Duria
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61 views

Module 1 - Lesson 2

This document discusses key questions and issues in the study of history. It defines historiography as the history of history writing and how it provides context for historical facts and perspectives of historians. History serves different purposes for different groups, such as nation-building or justifying colonialism. The document also examines schools of thought in historiography like positivism, which requires empirical evidence, and postcolonialism, which aims to write history from the perspective of formerly colonized peoples and critique colonial rule. Finally, it addresses the issue that history is often told from the biased viewpoint of those in power.

Uploaded by

Lucy May Duria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Readings in Philippine HistoryLESSON 2

GE 2104 MODULE

Republic of the Philippines


Southern Leyte State University-Hinunangan Campus
Hinunangan, Southern Leyte

Module I: Introduction to History: Definition,


Issues, Sources and Methodology

INTRODUCTION:
This module introduces history as a discipline and as a narrative. It presents the definition of the
history, which transcends the common 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 in relation to the historical
subject matter being studied and the historical methodology employed by the historian. Ultimately, this
chapter also tackles the task of the historian as the arbiter of facts and evidences in making his
interpretation and forming historical narrative.

This module covers the following lessons:


Lesson 1. Definition and Subject Matter
Lesson 2. Questions and Issues in History
Lesson 3. History and the Historian
Lesson 4. Historical Sources

MODULE OUTCOME:

At the end of this module, you must have:

 Determined what history is as a theoretical field and discussed the


historiographical method of the evaluation of primary sources.

Lesson 2. Questions and Issues in History


Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
 Differentiate history and historiography
 Analyze concepts under subject matter

Page 1 of 4
Southern Leyte State University
Hinunangan Campus
Readings in Philippine HistoryLESSON 2
GE 2104 MODULE

LET’S STUDY!

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. Thus, historiography lets the students have a better understanding of history. They
do not only get to learn historical facts, but they are also provided with the understanding of the facts'
and the historian's contexts. The methods employed by the historian and the theory and perspective,
which guided him, will also be analyzed. Historiography is important for someone who studies history
because it teaches the student to be critical in the lessons of history presented to him.

History has played various roles in the past. States use history to unite a nation. It can be used as
a tool to legitimize regimes and forge a sense of collective identity through collective memory. Lessons
from the past can be used to make sense of the present. Learning of past mistakes can help people to
not repeat them. Being reminded of a great past can inspire people to keep their good practices to move
forward.

Positivism is the school of thought that emerged between the eighteenth and nineteenth century.
This thought requires empirical and observable evidence before one can claim that a particular
knowledge is true. Positivism also entails an objective means of arriving at a conclusion. In the
discipline of history, the mantra "no document, no history stems from this very same truth, where
historians were required to show written primary documents in order to write a particular historical
narrative. Positivist historians are also expected to be objective and impartial not just in their
arguments but also on their conduct of historical research.

As a narrative, any history that has been taught and written is always intended for a certain
group of audience. When the ilustrados, like Jose Rizal, Isabelo de los Reyes, and Pedro Paterno wrote
history, they intended it for the Spaniards so that they would realize that Filipinos are people of their
own intellect and culture. When American historians depicted the Filipino people as uncivilized in their
publications, they intended that narrative for their fellow Americans to justify their colonization of the
islands. They wanted the colonization to appear not as a means of undermining the Philıppines
sovereignty, but as a civilizing mission to fulfill what they called as the "white man's burden." The same
is true for nations which prescribe official versions of their history like North Korea, the Nazi Germany
during the war period, and Thailand. The same was attempted by Marcos in the Philippines during the
1970s.

Postcolonialism is a school of thought that emerged in the early twentieth century when formerly
colonized nations grappled with the idea of creating their identities and understanding their
societies against the shadows of their colonial past. Postcolonial history looks at two things in
writing history: first is to tell the history of their nation that will highlight their identity free from
that of colonial discourse and knowledge, and second is to criticize the methods, effects, and idea of
colonialism. Postcolonial history is therefore a reaction and an alternative to the colonial history
that colonial powers created and taught to their subjects.

Page 2 of 4
Southern Leyte State University
Hinunangan Campus
Readings in Philippine HistoryLESSON 2
GE 2104 MODULE

One of the problems confronted by history is the accusation that the history is always written by
victors. This connotes that the narrative of the past in always written from the bias of the powerful and
the more dominant player, For instance, the history of the Second World War in the Philippines always
depicts the United States as the hero and the Imperial Japanese Army as the oppressors. Filipinos who
collaborated with the Japanese were lumped in the category of traitors or collaborators. However, a
more thorough historical investigation will reveal a more nuanced account of the history of that period
instead of a simplified narrative as a story of hero versus villain.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
A. Illustrate an analogy that shows the difference of history and historiography and provide a brief
explanation.

Page 3 of 4
Southern Leyte State University
Hinunangan Campus
Readings in Philippine HistoryLESSON 2
GE 2104 MODULE

B. Do the task and answer the following questions below:


1. What are your insights about “Positivism” school of thought? Do you agree with their stands?
Explain.

2. Discuss what is the aim and belief of “Postcolonialism” school of thought.

3. Do you believe in the statement “The narrative of the past is always written from the bias of the
powerful and the more dominant player”? Defend your answer.

Page 4 of 4
Southern Leyte State University
Hinunangan Campus

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