Reading in Philippine History

Primary Sources
They are connected to a particular event because they were created during the time of the event.
It involved someone who participated in the event first hand.

Examples of Primary Sources

 Personal Interviews
 Journals/Diaries
 First-hand experience
 Government records
 Photographs
 Videos
 Maps
 Arts
 Film Archives
 Artifacts

Secondary Sources
Are sources based on the primary source.

Examples of Secondary Sources

 Textbooks
 Magazine articles
 Assignments
 Stories
 Reading in Philippine History: Part 2

History began when mankind learned how to write and keep a record knowledge.

Role of the Historian

History – ‘inquiry’ or knowledge acquired by investigation.

- The past described in written documents.
- Events that occurred before written records are Prehistory.
History as Reconstruction
The historian is many times removed from the events under investigation.
Historians only rely on surviving records.
Not everything in the past was recorded.
- Only a part of what was observed in the past was remembered by those who observe it
- Only a part or what was remembered was recorded
- Only a part of what has survived has come to the historian’s attention.
Yes, there are missing pages in annal history.

Instances where knowledge was lost

In short, only a small part that is credible can be grasped.
Only a small part that has been grasped can be expounded or narrated by the historian.

Historian

Is the historian infallible?

No, He/She/They are prone to mistakes, biases etc.
Infallible- cannot be mistaken
Nope, a historian is fallible, they make mistakes
-biases (personal, political, religious)
-own frame preferences (values, loyalties, assumptions, interests)
History can change over time when presented with new evidence.
Biases – personal, political, religious, personal idiosyncrasies
Each one has their own frame of preference – a set of interlocking values, loyalties,
assumptions, interests and principles of actions.

Different Interpretations *insert pic of a man shooting a gun*

From a political opponent: “I wonder if he’s as good as he is in Malacanang”
From an LP Loyalist: “Good for him, he deserves a break from his everyday work”
A clergy man: “As a role model for all Filipinos, he shouldn’t be photographed doing that.”

History is not fiction

Historical accounts must be based on all available relevant evidences.

A version of the past that cannot be supported by evidence is worthless.
Historians have to verify sources, to date them, locate their place of origin and identify their
intended functions.
Thus, it involves
- Selection of subject
- Collection of sources
- Examination of genuineness
- Extraction from sources
Source – an object from the past or testimony concerning the past on which historians depend in
order to create their own depiction of that past.
Tangible – (Solid/Create/Palpable) remains of the past.
Test of Authenticity

1. Determine the date of the document to see whether are anachronistic

- E.g. pencils did not exist before the 16th century
2. Determine the author
- E.g. handwriting, signature, seal
3. Anachronistic style
- E.g. idiom. Orthography, punctuation
4. Anachronistic reference to events
- E.g. too early, too late, too remote
5. Provenance or custody
- E.g. determines the genuineness
6. Semantics – determining the meaning of a text or a word.
7. Hermeneutics – determining ambiguities.

Three Major Components to effective Historical Thinking

1. Sensitive to multiple causation.
2. Sensitive context.
3. Awareness of the interplay on continuity and change in human affairs.

Assignment
Theme: Museum Visit
Individual activity but work in pairs/groups
2-3 Paragraphs
1. Identify the artifacts located in anthropology museum (foreign and local artifacts) what
and how they were used, relevance of the artifacts to the students.
2. Reaction Paper at the end (1-2 Paragraphs)
Submit in PDF via SOUL
Long Bond paper
Write whatever you can
Deadline: September 15, 2022 (Thursday)
 Philippine Prehistory

What is Prehistory?

- The period of time before written records

.

Sources of Prehistory

- Soil samples
- Environment
- Elements
- Nature
- Artifacts

Sources

Artifacts - anything made or modified by humans to suit their purpose.

- Lithics
- Ceramics/ Porcelain (another form of ceramics)
- Wood and bone stools
- Shell tools
- Glass Tools (obsidian)
Ecofacts - natural objects that have been used or affected by humans

- Animal bones people have eaten

- Pollen found in archaeological sites
- Remains of insects/pests

Fossil - the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form as a

mold or cast in rock

- The hard remains of a prehistoric animal or plant that are found inside a rock

Features - a different kind of artifact that cannot be easily removed from archeological sites

- Hearth; intrinsic feature of the site

- Pits; holes dug by humans
- Midden; deep area of debris

Folklore - Manners, customs, observance, superstitions, ballads, songs, traditions

Radiocarbon/ Carbon-14/ 14C Dating - Based on all principles that all living matter possesses a
certain amount of radioactive form of carbon

Purpose: to determine the amount of Carbon-14 left in an organism by counting the beta
radiations emitted per minute, per gram
Uranium Series Dating - decays of two kinds of uraniums (235U) and (238U) into isotopes such
as 230TH (Thorium)

Potassium-Argon - Potassium-40 (40k) radioactive form of Potassium decays and forms Argon-
40 (40Ar)

- May be used to date samples from 5000 years up to 3 billions years

- Used to date potassium-rich minerals in rock

Terms:

Before Present (BP) - years is a time scale in archaeology, geology, etc.

Before Common Era (BCE) - sometimes, before current era; dates between the year 1 CE
Before Christ (BC) - before 1 AD

Tentative Exam (Possibly on Thursday) that ranges from primary sources to prehistory artifacts .