Meaning and

Relevance of History
and Primary and
Secondary Sources
Part 1: Meaning and Relevance of History; Distinction of Primary and Secondary Sources; and External and Internal Criticism
Meaning and Relevance of History; Distinction of Primary
and Secondary Sources; and External and Internal Criticism

OBJECTIVES Evaluate primary sources for their credibility,

authenticity, and provenance
Lecture/ discussion; library; museum, and archive
METHODOLOGY visitation (depends on the location of HEI);
comparative analysis of primary and secondary
sources
RESOURCES Textbooks, pictures, images, illustrations
ASSESSMENT Produce examples of primary sources and the
corresponding secondary sources derived from them
Meaning and Relevance of History
HISTORY

In its most basic definition, history is the study of events

that happened in the past and the causes of those
events.

However, the meaning and relevance of history to the

human civilization are much more complex than this.
Meaning and Relevance of History
HISTORY

The word history was derived from

the Greek word historia, or
“knowledge acquired through inquiry
or investigation.”
Meaning and Relevance of History
HISTORY

The classical Latin then acquired a

new definition of history as “the
account of the past of a person or a
group of people through written
documents and historical
evidences.”
Meaning and Relevance of History
HISTORIOGRAPHY

While history is the study of past events, historiography deals

with the study of history itself.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Class Discussion

Why do we need to study history?

How can it be used as a tool to make sense of the present?
Meaning and Relevance of History
Class Discussion

Traditional historians believe that

historical events should be backed up
with written documents. Thus, an event
that lacks existing documents cannot
be proven as a historical fact.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Class Discussion

Considering only the written

documents as evidence for historical
facts is restricting and discriminating
against the social classes that may not
be able to record their own
experiences.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Class Discussion

Because of this loophole, historians

then started considering other forms of
historical sources, such as artifacts,
architecture, songs, epics, and even
passing of memories and stories by
word of mouth.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Who writes history?

Through historical evidence, historians

are able to write history. They are
responsible for the analysis,
interpretation, and organization of
facts.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Who writes history?

However, a historian is still a person

influenced by his environment,
education, and other circumstances
that may affect the interpretations or
the methodology being used.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Who writes history?

This subjectivity poses an issue

on the validity of claims toward
historical facts. This is why Rigor is required for the
historians employ a researchers and historians.
methodology to ensure that Reliable historical evidences
the historian’s biases do not should be used to validate
blind his judgment. claims.
Meaning and Relevance of History
Who writes history?

With the issue of validity related to the inevitable biases of the

historian, several methodologies are applied to ensure as
much objectivity as possible.

To validate claims of historical events and to balance the

inevitable biases in interpretation, historians largely rely on
historical sources.
Historical Sources
Who writes history?

Historical sources can be

classified into primary and
secondary sources.
 ❑Autobiographies
❑Speeches
Historical Sources ❑Essay by person expressing his own
view
❑Receipts
Primary Sources ❑Letters of the editor expressing the
writer's
❑view
• are materials which
❑Laws, ordinances, letters of
directly point or discusses Instructions.
the subject matter. ❑Decrees
❑Newspaper articles reporting directly
about
❑the event
❑Diaries and journals
❑Reports, Letters, Editorials, Transcript of
❑Records
❑Eyewitness accounts
Historical Sources
Secondary Sources
are made by individuals who
were not direct participants to
the event or people who got the
information from somebody else
or from primary source. Digested
information or information
derived from primary sources are
considered secondary sources.
❑ Textbooks
❑ Encyclopedia entries
❑ Magazine articles
about a topic
❑ Teachers' report on
student behavior as
❑ Reported too school
counselors
❑ Reports from a person
talking about the
❑ Subject matter
Historical Sources
❑Information found in the Card
Catalogue about a book or
Tertiary Sources document.
❑Abstract of books, theses and
are called General dissertation are also general
references and therefore
references. It helps considered general references.
point to the reader to ❑Incomplete information in the
a primary or Internet is called stubs are also
secondary source. considered general reference
External and Internal Criticism
External Criticism Internal Criticism

Process of verifying Examination of the content

historical evidence through of the material, including its
its physical characteristics truthfulness.
and analyzing its material
consistency with the period
it was produced.
External and Internal Criticism
External Criticism Internal Criticism

Process of verifying Examination of the content

historical evidence through of the material, including its
its physical characteristics truthfulness.
and analyzing its material
consistency with the period
it was produced.