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3 Criticism of Historical Sources: GEC 002-BALSCM12S1 - Readings in Philippine History

1.3 Criticism of Historical Sources

Hello my dear students! This topic will teach you how to criticize a historical source. In this time
and age of proliferation of fake news, this skill is very much indispensable. So, join me now and
let us begin to learn how to criticize a historical source and see whether these are historically
accurate or not. Here we go!

Historical studies on the meaning of past events in an attempt to interpret

the facts and explain the cause of events, and their effect in the present
events. In doing so, historians rely heavily on primary historical data (direct
accounts of events, archival data - official documents, personal records, and
records of eyewitnesses) and less frequently on secondary historical data
(information from persons who didn’t witness the event; e.g. textbooks,
newspapers, encyclopedias).

Although the Greek historian Herodotus was acknowledged as the "Father

of History", it was Thucydides (photo on the right, courtesy of Wikimedia
Commons), an ancient Greek historian, is the pioneer of historical criticism
of historical data. Hence, he was acclaimed as the "Father of Scientific History" due to his
splendid work on "The History of Peloponnesian Wars."

When we read a piece of historical work, we have to be critical and discerning. We may utilize
criticism of historical data as explained below.

Criticism of Historical Sources

The historian should be able to conduct an external and internal criticism of the source, specially
the primary sources which can age in centuries.

Evaluation of historical data and information is often referred to as historical criticism and the
reliable data yielded by the process are known as historical evidence. Historical evidence is
derived from historical data by the process of criticism, which is of two types: external and
internal criticism.
1. External criticism is the practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by examining its
physical characteristics of the time when it was produced; and the materials used for the
evidence.
Here, evidence is examined based on physical characteristics like materials used for the
evidence, the structure, layout and the design are scrutinized also.
Involves finding out if the sources material is genuine and if passes textual
integrity. External criticism in historical research evaluates the validity of the document
this is,where and by whom it was produced.
2. Internal criticism, on the other hand, is the examination of the truthfulness of the evidence.
It looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the evidence by looking at the author of the
source and its context.
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Internal criticism evaluates the meaning accuracy and truth worthiness of the content
of document.
Internal criticism concerned with the accuracy and meaning of the data contained in
the document.

How to Criticize a Historical Source

In the advent of social media as a very ubiquitous platform of airing self-expressions and views, it
is your job, as student-historians, to evaluate and criticize the historicity of these posts / websites /
blogs and even YouTube videos proliferating around. This task requires you criticize and evaluate
historical website and any other website which publishes events in history with their
accompanying interpretations, explanations, assumptions, and even predictions.

Criteria in Analyzing a Historical Source

Criteria Things to evaluate/analyze
The historical event posted and accompanying interpretation is accurate and
verifiable
Accuracy
Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.
Know the distinction between author and Webmaster.

What credentials are listed for the authors? Are they educated to be or trained in
Authority
historiography?
Where is the document published and verified?

Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so information might be biased.

View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why
Objectivity
was this written and for whom?
Check if there are monetary matters or motivation behind the motive of posting

Is the post current or latest?

Currency
When was it produced? When was it updated'

Is it free or is there a fee, to obtain the information?

Coverage Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better
viewing?

Adapted from: Kapoun, Jim. "Teaching undergrads WEB evaluation: A guide for library
instruction." C&RL News (July/August 1998): 522-523.

Click the "Next" button to proceed.

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