THE MEANING OF HISTORY

• The English word history is derived from the Greek word

"istoia"meaning learning
• According to Aristotle, history is the systematic account of a set of
natural phenomena whether or not chronological ordering was a
factor in an account, and this is considered as natural history. As
time passed, the equivalent Latin word "scientia",which is science in
English later was used more to designate nonchronological
systematic accounts of phenomena.
• Presently, the word "history" means the "past of mankind". History is
the study of past events, particularly in human affairs.
• History in German is "Geschichte", meaning, "that which has
happened". This means that the word implies that history teaches
and we may learn from the lessons of history.
• With the definition of history, it brings man to a recognition that
history cannot be reconstructed, that the past of mankind, much of
it, is beyond recall. And that even the best of our memories cannot
re-create our past.
• The reconstruction of the total past of mankind is the total goal of
historians which, however, is unattainable. Historians will never
really know everything that happened in the past.
• The problem that every historian confronts is that the evidence they
rely on is likely to be fragmented, incomplete and even
contradictory. The result is, each historian's conclusions are
influenced by the evidence they have selected from what is available
and from how they interpreted it.
• And from whatever a historian only has will be the only thing that he
can use to connect him to the past.
HISTORICAL METHOD
• The process of critically examining and analyzing the records and
survivals of the past.
• To study objectively (intention of acquiring detached and truthful
knowledge independent of one's personal reactionsfl a thing must first
be an object and must have an independent resistance outside the
human mindfl. Most of history is based on the human mind since most
of history is based upon recollection (written or spoken historyfi.
• In reconstruction, only a part of what was observed is remembered,
only a part of what was remembered is recorded, only a part of what
was recorded survives, only a part of what survived comes to the
historian's attention. Only of a part of what is credible has been
grasped, only a part of what has been grasped can be expounded and
narrated by the historian.

HISTORICAL SOURCES
- Objects from the past or testimony concerning the past which historians
use to create their own depiction of the past.

1. According to Form
*Written Sources
- Published materials (books, journals etc.fl and manuscript (handwritten
and unprinted like archival materials and memoirsfl

*Non written Sources

-Oral history, artifacts, fossils, etc.
2. According to Origin
*Primary Sources
- Testimony of an eyewitness
- It must have been produced by a contemporary of that is narrated.
It is a document or physical object 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.
*Secondary Sources
- Interpret and analyze primary sources

- They are one or more steps removed from the event. Examples are
printed textbooks.
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
- Settles matters on the form and content of a source

*External Criticism
- Deals with the problem of authenticity
- To spot hoaxes, fakes, forgeries and fabrications
- Tests of Authenticity are:
Determine the date if it is Anachronistic: a material, skill or culture
does not exist at that time
Determine the author in the uniqueness of his handwriting or
signature
Determine the provenance or custody: genuineness Determine
the Semantics, meaning of a text or word
Determine the Hermeneutics, the ambiguities

*Internal Criticism
- deals with the problem of credibility.
 - Tests of credibility are:
Determine the Character of the Author, his reliability, and his
ability and willingness to tell the truth Determine the
Corroboration, historical facts rest upon the testimony of two or
more reliable witnesses

KINDS OF PRIMARY SOURCES

• Records of social and cultural observations

• Chronicles

• Human Fossils (remains of ancient man imbedded in the earth such

as bones, hair, skin etc.fl
• Artifacts ( cultural evidences of man in the past such as tools and
implementsfl
• Records of Detective Investigations

• Royal Decrees and Laws

• Official Reports

• Maps

• Memoirs or Autobiographies

• Personal accounts: record of interviews

• Newspapers and Magazines: reports of correspondents

• Legislative journals

• Court Records
REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
National Archives of the Philippines
National Library of the Philippines
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
National Museum of the Philippines the
University of the Philippines, the Ateneo de
Manila Rizal Library and
Museum, the American Historical Collection in ADMU, and the University of
Sto. Tomas Central Library and Museums.