Leyte Colleges

Tacloban City

COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

MODULE IN READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

TOPICS COVERED:

 Chapter 1 Introduction to History: Definition, Issues, Sources, and methodology

A. Definition and Subject Matter

B. Questions and Issues in History

C. History and the Historian

D. Historical Sources

I. INTRODUCTION.

Welcome to the course Introduction to History: Definition, Issues, Sources, and Methodology.
In this course, we will explore the fundamental concepts and tools used by historians to
study and interpret the past. History is a critical discipline that allows us to understand how
societies and cultures have evolved over time and how historical events have shaped the
world we live in today. By studying history, we can gain insights into the political, social,
economic, and cultural forces that have shaped our world and develop a deeper appreciation
of the diversity and complexity of human experience. In this course, we will cover the
definition of history, the issues that historians face, the sources of historical information, and
the various methodologies used by historians to analyze and interpret historical events. By
the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of the basics of history and be
equipped with the tools necessary to engage in historical inquiry and analysis.

This chapter 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.
II. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs)

At the end of this chapter, learners are expected to;

 To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline and to be familiar with

the underlying philosophy and methodology of the discipline.

 To apply the knowledge in historical methodology and philosophy in assessing and

analyzing existing historical narratives.

 To examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources.

 To appreciate the importance of history in the social and national

life of the Philippines.

III. CONTENT

A. Definition and Subject Matter

 History
✓History has always been known as the study of the past.
✓Derived from the Greek word historia which means "knowledge acquired
through inquiry or investigation."
✓History as a discipline existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as
mathematics and philosophy. The term was then adapted to classical
Latin
where it acquire a new definition.
✓Historia became known as the account of the past of a person or of a
group of people through written documents and historical evidences. It
became the historian's duty to write about the lives of important
individuals
like monarchs heroes, saints, and nobilities.
✓History was also focused on writing about wars, revolutions, and other
important breakthroughs. Traditional historian lived with the mantra of
"no document, no history." It means that unless written document can
prove a certain historical event, then it cannot be considered as a
historical fact.
✓Valid Historical Sources not limited to written documents like:
 Government Records; Chroniclers' accounts; or Personal Letters

 Loophole
✓Was recognized by historians who started using other kinds of historical
sources, which may not be in written form but were just as valid.
Examples: Oral traditions in forms of epics and songs;
Artifacts;
Architecture; and
Money
B. Question and Issues in History

 What is History?

 Why Study History?

 History is for whom?

This questions can be answered by Historiography

 Historiography
✓It is the history of history.
✓It is important for someone who studies history because it teaches the
student to be critical in the lesson of history presented to him.
Note: History and historiography should not be confused with each other.
✓History- is the event or period and the study of it.
✓Historiography- is the study of how history was written, who wrote it, and
what factors influenced how it was written.

 Positivism
✓is a term used to describe an approach to the study of society that relies
specifically on empirical scientific evidence, such as controlled experiments
and statistics.
Example: Using fieldwork, researchers immerse themselves in another
culture to learn about it. Modern sociologists don't embrace the version of
one "true" vision of society as a goal for sociology like Comte did.

 Post Colonialism
✓The 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.
 It looks at two things in writing history:
1. To tell the history of their nation that will highlight their identity free
from that of colonial discourse and knowledge; and
2. To criticize the methods, effects, and idea of colonialism. Therefore a
reaction and an alternative to the colonial history that colonial powers
created and taught to their subjects.
C. History and the Historian
✓We cannot access the past directly as our subject matter. Historians only
get to access representation of the past through historical sources and
evidences.

 Historians Job
✓not just to seek for historical evidences and facts but also to interpret
these facts. "Facts cannot speak for themselves."
✓Give meaning to these facts and organizes present historical fact.
He is a person of his own who is influenced by his own context, environment,
ideology, education, and influences, among others. In that sense, his
interpretation of the historical fact is affected by his context and
circumstances.

 Historical Research requires rigor.

✓Despite the fact that historians cannot ascertain Historical Research
requires
rigor. absolute objectivity, the study of history remains scientific because of
the rigor of the research and methodology that historians employ.

 Historical Methodology
✓Comprises certain techniques and rules that historians follow in order to
properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing history.

 The Annales School of History

✓A school of history born in France that challenged the canons of history.
This school of thought did way with the common historical subjects that were
almost always related to the conduct of states and monarchs.
•Annales Scholars studied other subjects in historical manner like:
1. Lucien Febvre
2. Marc Bloch
 3. Fernand Braudel; and
4. Jacques Le Goff
✓They were concerned with social history and studied longer historical
periods.
D. Historical Sources
Classified into two:
1. Primary sources
2. Secondary sources
depends not on the period when the source was produced or the type of the
source but on the historical subject being studied.

 Primary Sources Those sources produced at the same time as the event,
period, or subject being studied.
Examples:

 Archival documents Artifacts

 Memorabilia

 Letters

 Census

 Government Records

 Secondary Sources
Those sources which are produced by an author who used primary sources to
produce the material. In short, these are historical sources which studied à
certain historical subject.
Examples:

 Textbooks

 Biographies
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. The historian should be able to conduct an external and internal
criticism of the source, especially primary sources which can age in centuries.
 External Criticism
The practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by examining its
physical characteristics; consistently with the historical characteristics of
the time when it was produced; and the materials used for the evidence.
Example of the things that will be examined when conducting external
criticism of a document include the quality of the paper, the type of the ink,
and the language and words used in the material, among others.

 Internal Criticism
The examination of the truthfulness of the evidence.Looks at the
truthfulness and factuality of the evidence by looking at the author of the
source, it context, the agenda behind its creation, the knowledge which
informed it, and its intended purpose, among others.

 Philippine Historiography

 Underwent several changes since the precolonial period until present

 Ancient Filipinos narrated their history through communal songs and epics
that they passed orally form a generation to another

 Spaniards came, their chroniclers started recording their observations

 through written accounts. The Spanish colonizers narrated the history of

their colony in bipartite view

 Filipino historian Zeus Salazar introduced the new guiding philosophy for
writing and teaching history.

 pantayong pananaw (for us-from us perspective) - this perspective

highlights the importance of facilitating an internal conversation an
discourse among Filipinos about our own history, using the language that
is understood by everyone
IV. ASSESSMENT
NAME____________________________COURSE AND YEAR______________DATE: _________
Test I. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. 2 points each
1. History as a discipline existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as ______and
_____.
2. History was also focused on writing about _______, _________, and other important
breakthroughs.
3. ______ and ________ should not be confused with each other.
4. The school of thought that emerged between the ______ and ______ century.
5. Both __________ and _________ sources are useful in writing and learning history.
Test II. True or False. Write T if the statement is true. Otherwise, write F if the
statement is false
_____1. History is the study of the past.
_____2. Historical sources that were not written should not be used in writing history.
_____3. The subject of historiography is history itself.
_____4. History has no use for the present, thus, the saying "past is past is true.
_____5. History is limited to the story of a hero versus a villain.
_____6. Only primary sources may be used in writing history.
_____7. There are three types of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.
_____8. External criticism is done by examining the physical characteristics of a
source.
_____9. Internal criticism is done by looking at a source's quality of paper and type of
ink, among others.
_____10. The historians are the only source of history.
Test III. Multiple Choice – Write the letter before the number item.
1. What is a historian's job?
a. Understanding the workings of populations and cultures.
b. Studying the past and solve complex research questions.
c. All of the above.
2. The systematic study of past events is called
a. History b. Civics C. Sociology
3. It is the history of history.
a. Historiography b. Historical research c. History
4. What is a Historian's job when events are called into question?
a. To dodge the question, and redirect it to another question.
b. To establish and maintain facts.
c. To come up with information whether factual or not.
5. Documents or recordings that were created after an event by people who did not
witness the event.
a. Excavation b. Secondary Source c. Primary Source
6. History comes from what greek word?
a. Historia b. Herstoria c. His tory
7. Who are historians?
a. People who make science
b. People who study history
c. People who make history
8. History is a study of the..
a. Past b. Future c. Present
9. All of these are types of written sources except...
a. Oral songs b. Newspapers c. Personal Letters
10. Which is NOT a good reason to study history?
a. To problem solve b. To change others' opinions c. To learn about
other cultures
Test IV. Matching Type: Match column A with column B – write the letter before the
number item in column A

Column A Column B

1. History A. It is the history of history

2. Historiography B. It exists since around the middle of
the 20th century.
3. Positivism
C. Those sources produced at the same
4. Post Colonialism
time as the event, period, or subject
5. External Criticism being studied.
 6. Primary source D.the idea of creating their identities and
understanding their societies against
7. Internal Criticism
the shadows of their colonial past.
8. Secondary sources
E. Is the study of the past
9. The Annales school
F. Is a term used to describe an
10. Historians job approach to the study of society.
G. practice of verifying the authenticity
of evidence by examining its physical
characteristics.
H. The examination of the truthfulness
of the evidence.
I. It is the information used to analyze,
interpret, and discuss primary source
J. It is a school of history born in france.
K. It is the study of how gistory was
written, who wrote it, and what factors
influenced how it was written.
L. research, analyze, interpret, and write
about the past by studying historical
documents and sources.

Test V. Enumeration
1. What are those Historical sources that classified in to two?
2. Give atleast 3 examples of primary sources.
3. What are the two types of history sources?
4. Give atleast 2 examples of Secondary sources?
5. The historian should be able to conduct the two criticism, what are those?

Test VI. Discussion

1. Why study history?
2. In your own understanding, what is history?
3. Why is history important and How can it benefit your future?
4. What is the significance of the history?
5. Why do we need historical inquiry?

Prepared by:
DEL ROSARIO, REYSHELL S.
TEPOSO, ZANDRYL
GEN ED5/GE380
(WSAT) 2:30-4PM

Submitted to:
MR. JAIME B. CATINDOY
Instructor