DISCIPLINE OF

HISTORY
:PREPARED BY
MELODY E. VILLALON and DHYNLEE MAE R. ALINGASA
From GRADE 11 - HUMSS (A)
WHAT IS THE
DISCIPLINE OF
HISTORY?
History, the discipline that studies the chronological
record of events, based on a critical examination of
source materials and usually presenting an explanation
of their causes. History is treated in a number of articles.
 The word history came from the Greek word historia
means “finding out,” “inquiry,” and “narrative.” In some
interpretations, historia means “knowledge acquired by
investigation.” The American Historical Association defines
history as “the never-ending process whereby people seek
to understand the past and its meaning.” History in how
many way for us to understand ourselves and make sense of
the world.
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF HISTORY
The prehistoric
period refers to the
time when a system
of writing was not
yet invented to
record history, which
at that time was
passed down to
generation to
generation through
oral tradition.
In Ancient Egypt,
written story started
around middle if the
third millennium
BCE. The early
Egyptians chronicled
ancient Egyptian
history by listing the
names of kings and
the rulers of Egypt.
Ancient
Mesopotamians also
recorded history by
providing a list of
kings: but aside from
that, they also wrote
narrations, which
weaved a coherent
historical account.
In Ancient China, the
studying and recording of
history became more
developed. History was used
to propagate Chinese moral
philosophy, which was
closely linked to their
political and social lives. It is
thought that Confucius (551-
479 BCE) was first to have
studied and compiled
Chinese history in the books
Chungjiu (Spring and
Autumn Annals) and Shujing
(Classic of History).
 The Hebrew Bible or the
Old Testament is considered
as an important historical
writing in the western
civilization, as the Chungjiu
and Shujing are for the
Chinese. Though a detailed
genealogy, the Old
Testament provides a
creation story and a list of
kings just like the Ancient
Egyptians and
Mesopotamians. The Old
Testament also recounts how
the Hebrew struggled and
endured to live in their
promised land.
 In ancient Greece,
logographers (from the
Greek words logos
meaning “story” and
grapho meaning “to
write”) were considered
to be first historians.
Roman historiography is, not
surprisingly, Greek in origin as
most of Greek culture was
imitated by the Romans. Polybius
(200-118 BCE), a Greek historian,
was instrumental in igniting
Roman historiography as he wrote
why Romedid not see fit to
recount it's historic achievements.
Polybius was also one of the first
to have method of comparative
analysis in the study of history. In
doing so, Polybius also the first
thinkers to have made a
comprehensive comparative
political analysis between Greek
city-states and Rome.
 History in the Renaissance
adhered more to the scientific
Galileo rather than the
philosopher Plato. The study of
history became more critical of
how classical works are
translated, passed down, and
written our time — thereby
questioning the authenticity if
sources and obscurity which
gradually accumulated over the
original text.
The early Christian
concept if history was
mired with the
apocalyptic expectations
for early Christians
believed the world is
about to end with the
Second Coming of
Jesus. As such, their
concept of history was
simply the incarnation,
death, resurrection, and
the second coming of
Christ.
 IMPORTANT
PERSONALITIES
IN HISTORY
HERODOTU
S (484-435
BCE),
a Greek historian, is
known to be the
Father of History.
Herodotus compiled a
systematically
arranged his
collection of works in
The Histories (440
BCE).
THUCYDID
ES (460-400
BCE),
was a Greek
philosopher, historian,
and general. He is
known as the Father of
Scientific History as his
History of the
Peloponnesian War
(431 BCE) recounted
events based on
evidence and analysis.
BAN GU (32-
92 BCE)
was a Chinese
historian and poet.
He became famous
for compiling the
Book of Han, which
contained the history
of the Han Dynasty.
LEOPOLD
VON RANKE
(1795-1886)
was a German historian
and a founder of all modern
study of history. Von Ranke
was the first to have
provided a historical
seminar where he
elaborated on the methods
and techniques in studying
history.
KARL
MARX
was, among others, a
German philosopher,
economist, and
sociologist. Marx is
often referred to as the
Father of Communism.
He stated in his book
The German Ideology
his theory on the
materialist conception
of history.
JACOB
BURCKHARD
T (1818-1897)
was a Swiss historian
known as one of the
fathers of cultural
history. His work, the
Civilization of the
Renaissance in Italy
(1860), depicted the
interconnectedness
between art and its
effects on society and
social institutions.
ARNOLD J.
TOYNBEE
(1889-1975)
was a British historian and
philosopher known for his
12-volume work titled A
study of History. In this
work, Toynbee narrated the
Histories of 26 civilizations,
describing how they
overcame challenges with
guidance and leadership of
an elite group of leaders.
THE FIELDS OF
HISTORY
 Using multidisciplinary approach, cultural history focuses on the study of
belief systems, customs, social forms, political systems, material traits, and
economic activities of a group or community usually for the purpose of cross
comparison with others. It gives importance to language, beliefs, and
assumptions and to their roles in group behavior.

 Social history is concerned with the study of particular kinds of phenomena

such as family and marriage, adolescence and mass media, human rights and
inequality, industrialization and development and work and leisure through use
of sociological theories and approaches.

 Intellected history looks into the history of ideas and theories.

Historiography is one of its primary subfields wherein the development of the
schools approaches are documented.
KEY CONCEPTS
IN HISTORY
SIGNIFICANCE
Finding significance is a process of determining which part of a historical
event has more value to be included in a narrative. One of the most notable
models in identifying which event is considered significant as proposed by Lord
Hartington, who promoted six-part criteria:
(1) the people thought that the event was important that time;
(2) the event affected a lot of people;
(3) it led to other important events;
(4) it still affects attitude and beliefs today;
(5) it affected people for a long time;
(6) it affected people deeply.
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
Historians have the goal of examining the shifts and transitions of institution,
actors and landscapes overtime. Through the chronological method, historians
face the changes that transpire in societies and in a long extent, the world.

CAUSE AND EFFECT

A common theme in historical analysis is that of cause and effect. Through
his paradigm, historians inquire on the factors that led in the events in history.
PERSPECTIVE
A history is primarily based on written records or oral tradition made by
different people in different eras and culture, the reconstruction of the events
require historians to adapt analytical tenses or perspective.
 RESEARCH
METHODS IN
HISTORY
ORAL TRADITION
In societies where written language is not present, traditions are
passed on through stories handed down from one generation to the
next. Oral Tradition can be used by historian in multiple ways to
reconstruct the past and to provide context to the present.

EXTERNAL CRITICISM
This is a method wherein the historian checks the validity of the
evidence used for the reconstruction of a historical event.
INTERNAL CRITICISM
This is a method where the historian checks the content of a
historical document or artifact by comparing it with existing
historical evidence related to the same event or figure.
 CURRENT
APPLICATION OF
HISTORY
MUSEUM STUDIES
This field, also called museology, studies how museums
developed through time and their current role in the society as a
depository of evidence of world history.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The preservation of artifacts and fossils for use of future
generations is one of the concerns of applied historians who utilize
historical knowledge and mythologize in providing context to social
issues for their resolution.
 THANK YOU!
AND HAVE A NICE
DAY AHEAD!
Melody E. Villalon and Dhynlee Mae R. Alingasa