Readings in Philippine History
Why is learning history important?
“We study the past to understand the present; we understand
the present to guide the future”
- William Lund
What is History?
A. History - from the word iotopia ("istoia") Greek for
learning/ knowledge acquired by investigation.
B. Traditional or Common definition
− A record of the past
− Narration of events which have happened among
mankind (Anderson, 1876, Manual of General
History)
Historians
A. Reconstruction of the past based on written records, oral,
cultural artifacts and folk traditions
B. Imaginative reconstruction of the past,the study of events
of the past or concerning people in the past
Historians are tasked with 2 other things aside from
recording:
1. Interpret the facts in an orderly and intelligible
manner
2. 2. Discover patterned and trends which govern the
behaviour of the people and nations and make
generalization of it.
Discovered patterned and trends which govern the which
govern the behaviour of the people and nations and make a
generalization of it
Subjectivity
− if there are no objects or clear evidence then the
reconstruction is built merely from the historian's
own understanding and mind.
Objectivity
− it must be an object and must have an independent
existence from the human mind
1. Bridging the gap between the past and the present
− The origins of something is important. How did you
get here? How did this happen? Why did we turn out
like this?
2. Predicting the Future
− History repeats itself. The future is likely a reiteration
of history to some account
3. Interpreting the conditions of a certain time
− What was it like living back in the 1900s? How were
the periodconditions?
4.Promoting Patriotism and love for country
− History writes down the sense of devotion martyrs,
heroes and countrymen have for their country. It
inspires a sense of patriotism and martyrdom or
good nature even in thecommon person
5. Relationship with other social Sciences
History and Sociology
− Evolution of societies and communities
History and Political Science
− The system, structure and nature of government, the
laws and regulations throughout history
History and Economics
− Provides a way to test one's theory, though
economic history. One needs to engage with the
economic past to prepare the next generation of
economists.
Sources of History
Historical Sources
− An object from the past or testimony concerning on
the past on which historians depended upon to
create their depiction of the past
Primary Sources
− Enable the researcher to get as close to as possible
to what actually happened during a historical event
or time period
Secondary Sources
− A source written about a primary source.
− It is written after the fact at a later date by someone
who have studied the primary sources of a historical
event or period and then will interpret it
 Primary Sources
Relics
− objects historians can study

Advantages
unfiltered access to the
record of a historical event
produced by people who
actually lived during that
time period or experienced
it
Provides a very real insight
to what it was like living
during that time period
Disadvantages
A. Artifacts
Have little context and is
− relics that are results of events
often incomplete, thus must
require students to use their
B. Written Documents
imagination to fill in gaps
− results or records of events
C. Historical Criticism
− In order for a source to be used as evidence there is
Moves from concrete facts a criteria it must meet
to interpretation fast
External Criticism

A. To spot fabricated, forced and fake documents and to

Secondary Sources
Advantages
Provide analysis; synthesis
and interpretation of
something by someone
who is already very
knowledgeable in the topic
Best for uncovering
background information
about the topic or
broadening your knowledge
on different perspectives
about the topic
Written Sources of History
A. Narrative or Literary
B. Diplomatic or Juridicial
Disadvantages
unfiltered access to the
record of a historical event
produced by people who
actually lived during that
time period or experienced
it
May contain bias or
subjective opinions. There
are multiple written works
about it that it becomes
overwhelming
distinguish a hoax or misinterpretation
B. Test of Authenticity
− Determine the date of the document to see if they
are anachronistic (did not fit into that time period)
example : cellphones in the 17th century
− Determine the credibility of the author
− Look at the way of writing – did it match the time
period that it was written the jargons, idioms,
orthography, and punctuation?
Test Of Authenticity:
Anachronistic reference to events
Provenance or custom
− determines it geniuses
Semantics
− determines the meanings of the word
Hermeneutics
− principals of interpretation of ambiguous words
Internal Criticism

− Kinds of sources that professional historians once
treated as purest 'best source. A legal document is
sealed or authenticated to provide evidence that a
legal transaction as been completed and can be used
as evidence in a judicial proceedings of dispute.
C. Social Documents
A. Problem of credibility and relevant particulars in the
document
B. Verisimilar
- as close to as what really happened from a critical
examination of available sources

− Information pertaining to economic, social, political

or judicial significance and is kept by bureaucracies.
Examples are reports, municipal accounts and
property registers