GE02-HISTORY REVIEWER

The word "history" is derived from the Greek "historia," which meaning "inquiry or
research." This indicates that the term "history" refers to inquiries into or reports of
historical events that are presented chronologically.

Here are some further definitions of history:

 the straightforward acceptance of what has been published regarding a historical
subject, event, or figure
 a brief historical chronology of significant events, individuals, and dates
 regarding one unchanging fact, one specific viewpoint, or one collection of
numbers and statistics
 a timeline of events, historical analysis
 a pinnacle of chronological story telling since it gradually connects a variety of
connected historical and modern ideas and events to a bigger narrative.

Famous people's perspectives on history:

 “History is a learning inquiry about the past of mankind.” – Herodotus (Father of
History)
 “History is a systematic account of a set of natural phenomena which are
arranged in their chronological order.” – Aristotle
 “History is not just a catalogue of events put in the right order like a railway
timetable” –A.J.P Taylor
 “History is written by the winners” –Napoleon Bonaparte
 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” –George
Santayana
 We are not makers of history, we made by history” –Martin Luther King Jr.
 “Study the past if you would define the future” –Confucius
 “The lack of sense of history is the damnation of the modern world” –Robert
Penn Warren
 “If we are to make progress, we must not repeat history but make new history.
We must add inheritance left by our ancestor”. –Mahatma Gandhi
 “History is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. What has
happened before will perforce happened again” –George R.R Martin
 “History is a re-creation of the past as seen by the historians; it is not objective.”
–Teodoro Agoncillo
 “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” –Winston S. Churchill
 “Each one writes history according to his convenience.” –Jose Rizal
 “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” –
KarlMarx
 Let us study things that are no more. It is necessary to understand them, if only
to avoid them.” – Victor Hugo
 “Philippine history has been conceived within uncritical, linear and develop mentalist
framework, an illustrado legacy that underpins even the most anti-illustrado texts.”
Reynaldo Ileto
 “He who can draw on three thousand years is living from hand to mouth.” –
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
 “History doesn’t have to be written by victors.” –Ninotchka Rosca
 “History is not merely a chronology of events; it is not the story of heroes and
great men. Essentially; history consists of the people’s efforts to attain a better
life.” –Renato Constantino
 “As you can see, there are quite a number of things taught in school that one has
to unlearn or at least correct.” –Ambeth Ocampo
 “History is facilitated by the formation of a discourse of past through the
production of narrative.” –Gregorio F. Zaide
 “Before 1521 we could have been anything and everything not Filipino; after
1565 we can be nothing but Filipino.” –Nick Joaquin
 “We have glorious past. Now we must build a future worthy of that past.” –Ramon
Magsaysay
Historiography
-on the other hand refers to the study of history itself. Historiography analyses who is
the history writer, the motives of the writer, the sources of the writer, theories applied
and other historical methods. It also analyzes the context when the history was written.

Importance of History
History, according to Penelope J. Carfield, "is inescapable." Because we are all living
history with a variety of tales to share, learn, find out about, comprehend, and live with,
it is unavoidable. Things that happened in the past have an impact on both the present
and the future. It provided insight into our identities, our world, and our future potential.

Who Qualifies as a Historian?

Jusserand (n.d.) states that history is written with agenda or is heavily influenced by
the historian, is it possible to come up with an absolute historical truth? Is history an
objective discipline? If it is not, is it still worthwhile to study history? These questions
have haunted historians for many generations. Indeed, an exact and accurate account
of the past is impossible for the very simple reason that we cannot go back to the past.
We cannot access the past directly as our subject matter. Only historical sources and
facts provide historians with access to historical representations of the past. As a
result, the historian's duties include both finding historical evidence and facts as well as
interpreting those facts. It is the historian's responsibility to give meaning to these data,
organize them into a timeline, identify causes, and write history because "facts cannot
speak for themselves." The historian, on the other hand, is not a machine that
automatically understands and evaluates current historical reality.

Lesson Summary
 History is derived from the Greek word "historia" which means "inquiry
or research".
 As a result, history is the study of historical occurrences that are related
in chronological sequence.
 Herodotus, considered the founder of history, described it as a study of
humankind's past.
 History is significant because it illuminates our history, present, and
future.
 By conducting thorough historical research that involves locating and
analyzing historical sources and data, historians create historical
knowledge. Historical knowledge can still be scientific despite the
inherent subjectivity of the historian by following to strict historical
methodology and working with other experts in the field.

What is a Source?
 Howell and Prevenier defined source as object from the past or testimony
concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own
depiction of that past.
 A source is a tangible remain of the past. It can be classified as Written and Non-
Written sources and Primary and Secondary Sources.
 A written source is an example of a primary written source. It can be in forms of
published materials like books, magazines, journals, travelogue and transcription
of speech and manuscripts (is any handwritten or typed record that has not been
printed) like diaries, memoirs and archival materials.
 Non-written sources are oral histories, artifacts, ruins, fossils, relics, art works,
video recordings and audio recordings are some of the many examples of non-
written sources.

Primary Sources
 are direct first-hand evidences regarding an object, person or work of art. These
sources are characterized by their content, regardless of whether they are available in
original format, microfilm, in digital format, or in published format.
 Primary sources are documents or physical objects which were written or created
during the time under study. These includes testimonies of the eye witness,
historical ang legal documents, experiments, results statistical data, audio and
video recordings, pieces of creative writing, speeches and art objects.
 The four main categories of primary sources are written sources, images,
artifacts and oral testimonies.
Secondary Sources
 are materials that describe, discuss, interprets, comment, analyze, evaluate,
summarize and process the primary sources. These sources are one or more
steps removed from the event.
 Secondary sources may include pictures, quotes, graphics of primary sources.
 Examples of secondary sources are textbooks, serials, periodicals which
interprets previous researches.

What is Historical Criticism?

 Historical Criticism tries to examine historical sources, texts in particular to be
used as evidence in history. It has two important goals: First, to discover the
original meaning of the text in its primitive or historical context and its literal
sense or sensus literalis historicus. Second, to establish a reconstruction of the
author and recipients of the texts (Ligan, et. al., 2018).
 Historical Criticism has two types: internal criticism and external criticism. These
two are both important in studying history for it examines the historical sources
very carefully in order to describe the past events accurately.

What is the difference between Internal and External Criticisms?

Internal Criticism
 determines the historicity of the facts contained in the document (Ligan, et.al.,
2018). In order to do this, it looks within the historical sources itself to determine
the truth-facts and reasonable interpretation. But before accepting any possible
conclusion or interpretation, the historical sources must be tested first. This
criticism tries to investigate and test the credibility of the author, the value of
facts, and the influences prevalent at the time the historical sources were made.
For example, in examining the credibility of the author, it looks at his mental
processes and mental attitude.
External Criticism
 tests the authenticity of the historical sources. To determine the authenticity of
the historical sources it looks upon the date it was created, its provenance or
custody to determine its genuineness, and it determines the author’s handwriting,
signature or seal used. For instance, the historical sources can be said authentic
and genuine if it is raw, unaltered, and exists exactly as what the author left it.
Lesson Summary
• History is written based on factual evidences, written documents, manuscripts which
provide sources of information.
• Sources are categorized as primary, secondary, written and non-written sources.
• Primary and secondary sources serve different functions, and both are important for
historians and students of history.
• There are two ways to evaluate historical sources, these are Internal and External
Criticisms. Internal Criticism investigates the content of the sources. It determines
how credible it is. While external criticism looks at the form of the sources. It
determines the authenticity and genuineness of the sources. These historical
criticisms are important in understanding history as it describe the past with accuracy.

THE REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES

 Through the documents, records, and others, primary sources give us an
unfiltered perspective of historical events, sociocultural legacy, economic
progress, and collective memories. These sources must be maintained and
made available to the public because they provide us a personal, distinctive, and
more comprehensive perspective of history.
 By virtue of Republic Act 9470, also known as An Act to Strengthen the System
of Management and Administration of Archival Records, Establishing for the
Purpose the National Archives of the Philippines, and for Other Purposes, the
National Archives of the Philippines came into existence on May 21, 2007. It is
an organization entrusted with gathering, safeguarding, conserving, storing,
promoting, and making accessible government records and other primary
sources relating to the history and development of the nation.
 The act primarily aimed at: (a) Strengthening the existing system of management
and administration of government archival records; (b) Defining the role of the
executive director in developing and supporting government records keeping,
including independent determinations on the disposal of public records and
certain local government archives; (c) Mandating government accountability in
ensuring that full and accurate records of the affairs of national government and
the LGUs are maintained and preserved; (d) Enhancing public confidence in the
integrity of public records keeping and management; (e) Ensuring the
accessibility of public records that are relevant to the promotion and preservation
of Philippine cultural heritage; (f) Supporting the safekeeping of private records.
 The museums and libraries that can be found in municipalities, cities, and
provinces are additional repositories. The National Historical Commission of the
Philippines is a good place to look for further sources.
 According to Merriam-online Webster’s dictionary, a library is a place where
books, manuscripts, recordings, films, and other reference materials are
preserved for use only and not for sale.
 A museum is a place dedicated to conserving and explaining the most important
physical proof of humanity and the environment. The museum is significantly
different from the library, with which it has sometimes been compared, in that it
preserves this primary evidence. This because the things kept in a museum are
typically one-of-a-kind and serve as the basis for study and research. They often
connect directly with the audience in a way that is not feasible through other
media since they are frequently divorced from the time, place, and circumstances
of their original setting. Museums havebeen established for a variety of reasons,
including to serve as leisure centers, academic hubs, or educational resources;
to improve the quality of life in the communities where they are located; to draw
tourists to an area; to foster civic pride or nationalistic endeavor; or even to
blatantly propagate ideological ideas. Given their wide range of objectives,
museum’s exhibit a surprising diversity in their structure, subject matter, and
even functions. Nevertheless, despite their differences, they share a common
objective: to preserve and interpret some tangible component of society’s cultural
consciousness.
 A historical society is a group devoted to safeguarding, gathering, studying, and
interpreting historical data or objects. These societies were initially established in
order to educate future generations about their heritage.

Lesson Summary
 Primary sources are very important in narrating history so it must be preserved
and made available for public.
 These sources are located in archives, museums, libraries and other historical
places.
National Archives of the Philippines
 It was created on May 21, 2007 by the virtue of Republic Act 9470 or An Act to
Strengthen the System of Management and Administration of Archival
Records, Establishing for the Purpose the National Archives of the Philippines,
and for Other Purposes.
 It is an agency tasked to collect, protect, conserve, store, promote make
available archival records of the government and other primary sources
pertaining to the history and development of the country.

The National Museum of the Philippines

 It is the repository and guardian of the Philippines' natural and cultural heritage.
 Through its initiatives in the fields of science, education, and culture, it aims to
instill cultural awareness, a sense of pride in their country, and nationalism in
Filipino residents.
 The National Museum was founded in 1901 and originally housed in its current
structure, which American architect Daniel Burnham completed in 1918. Since
that time, the museum's interests in the arts and sciences have expanded.
 It is located in the Agrifina Circle of Rizal Park and houses the Anthropology and
Archaeology Divisions in the neighboring former Finance building. The main
structure, formerly known as the Old Congress Building, is where the arts, natural
sciences, and other support divisions are housed.

Pambansang Aklatan ng Pilipinas

 It is the Philippines' recognized national library.
 The building complex may be found at Ermita on a section of Rizal Park that
faces T.
 M. Kalaw Avenue, which is close to places of cultural importance like the
National Historical Commission and the Museum of Philippine Political History.
 It is governed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, just as its
neighbors (NCCA).

National Historical Commission of the Philippines

 As a part of the government's plan for culture and development, the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines envisions a society in which Filipinos
are aware of their history, devoted to their nation, and proud of their cultural
heritage.
As the primary government agency responsible for the promotion
of Philippine history, the NHCP has the following functions:

 Commemorate significant historical events and declare historically

significant sites, structures, events and personages.
 Conduct research, produce materials in various media and publish and
disseminate historical works.
 Undertake and prescribe the manner of restoration, conservation, and
protection of the country’s historical movable and immovable objects.
 Manage, maintain and administer national shrines, monuments, historical
sites, edifices and landmarks of significant historic-cultural value.
 Regulate the design and manufacture of heraldic items of government
agencies, pursuant to Republic Act 8491 (Flag and Heraldic Code of the
Philippines).
 Resolve historical controversies or issues.

 The Historic Sites and Education Division (HSED) of the National Historical
Commission (NHCP) of the Philippines "manages interactive history
museums and administers and maintains national shrines, monuments and
landmarks." The National Historic and Cultural Properties (NHCP) is a body
established under RA 10086 that, among other things, "manages,
maintains and administers national shrines, monuments, historical sites,
edifices and landmarks of important historic-cultural importance." There are
several museums all around the country that honor historically significant
people, events, and locations.