Readings in Philippine

History

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Introductio
n
History is a study of the
past.

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 The low appreciation of
history may be rooted from
the shallow understanding
of its relevance to our lives
and to our respective
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contexts.

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Greek word historia which means
“knowledge acquired through
inquiry or investigation”

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● History existed for around
2,400 years.

● It is as old as mathematics
and philosophy.

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(classical Latin)
Historia
became known
as the account
of the past of a
person or a
group people
through written
documents and
historical Image source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/top-ten-most-
important-ancient-documents-lost-history-180967495/

evidences.
What counts as
history?
Traditional historians:
- “no document, no history”
History progressed and opened
up to the possibility of valid
historical sources:
chroniclers’
accounts
oral traditions
government
(epics & songs, artifacts,
records architecture, memory)

personal
letters genetic and changes
DNA patterns in
of human language
societies
This produced new
perspectives regarding
different questions like:
- What is history?
- Why study history?
- History for whom?
Historiography is the history
of history.
history historiography

Object of study:
Object of study: ☻history itself
☻the past - How was a historical text
☻events that written?
- Who wrote it?
happened in - What was the context of its
the past publication?
☻causes of - What historical method was
used?
such events - What were the sources used?
 ☺better
understanding of
history

historiography ☺understanding of
the facts and the
historian’s contexts

☺teaches one to be
critical in the
lessons of history
presented
Roles of history

■ used to unite a nation

■ a tool to legitimize regimes
and forge a sense of collective
identity
■ to make sense of the present
■ learn from past mistakes
■ being reminded of a great
past can inspire people
 Positivism
vs
Postcolonialism

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kids.html
As a narrative, any
history that has been
taught and written is
always intended for
a certain group of
audience.
 Positivism
● a school of thought that
emerged between the 18th and
19th century
● truth requires
empirical(realistic) and
observable evidence
● entails an objective means oftory”
no h is
arriving at a conclusion
c um en t,-
d o
impartial “n o
 Postcolonialism
● a school of thought that
emerged in the early 20th
century
● looks at two things in writing
history:
- To tell the history of their nation
- Criticize the methods, effects, and the
idea of colonialism
It is a reaction and an alternative
to colonial history
 History
and the
Historian
 Agree or Disagree?

History is subjective.

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If history is written with agenda or is heavily
influenced by the historian, is it possible to
come up with an absolute historical
truth?

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An accurate account of the past is
impossible for the very simple
reason that we cannot go back to
the past.

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 “Facts cannot speak for
themselves.”

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It is the job of the historian to give

meaning to these facts and
organize them into a timeline.
The historian is influenced by his
own context, environment,
ideology, education, and
influences, among others.
His subjectivity will inevitably
influence the process of his
historical research, the
methodology that he will use,
the facts that he shall select.
History is always subjective.

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 Agree or Disagree?

History is subjective.

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 HISTORICAL
METHODOLOGY
• Comprises
certain
techniques and
rules that
historians follow
in order to
properly utilize
sources and
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image-history-magnifying-glass-focused-word-
image36388781

historical
evidences in
 HISTORICAL SOURCES
• Primary sources – those sources
produced at the same time as the
event, period, or subject being
studied
• Secondary Sources – are those
sources which were produced by an
author who used primary sources
to produce the material
Image source: https://www.slideshare.net/MsCCostello/history-sources-archaeology-primary-amp-secondary-sources-58448300
 ANNALES SCHOOL OF HISTORY

• A school of history born in France

that challenged the canons of
history.
• A school of thought that did away
with the common historical subjects
that were almost always related to
the conduct of states and monarchs
Reference:
● Readings in Philippine History
by John Lee P. Candelaria
Veronica C. Alporha