Definition of History

Definition of History: History is often defined as "the past of

mankind." This definition implies that history is a study of events,

actions, and developments that have occurred in the past,
specifically within human societies. It encompasses the exploration
of various aspects of human existence, such as politics, culture,
society, economics, and more. In the German language, the word
"Geschichte" is derived from "geschehen," which translates to
"to happen." This perspective emphasizes that history is
essentially a record of what has transpired over time.
Limitations of Historical Reconstruction: The passage

highlights the inherent challenges in reconstructing history. It points
out that even individuals with excellent memories cannot fully
recreate their own personal past because certain events, details, or
experiences may have left no lasting impressions or may have been
forgotten over time. This limitation is extended to the broader
historical context, where entire generations from the distant past
may have left behind no records or traces, making it nearly
impossible to recall their experiences accurately. Essentially, the
passage underscores the partial and often incomplete nature of
historical knowledge.
Subjectivity vs. Objectivity: The passage discusses the

distinction between subjective and objective approaches in
historical research. Subjective knowledge is knowledge that exists
primarily within the observer's or historian's mind. It is influenced by
personal perspectives, biases, and interpretations. In contrast,
objective knowledge is acquired with the intention of being impartial
and truthful, independent of personal reactions or biases. While
striving for objectivity is crucial in historical research, it is essential
to recognize that historical facts are often derived from subjective
sources, such as human testimonies.
Artifacts as Historical Sources: Historical research relies on a
variety of sources, including physical artifacts like archaeological
findings, manuscripts, coins, and other remnants of the past. These
artifacts provide tangible evidence of past events and cultures.
However, it is important to note that even artifacts are not direct
representations of historical events; they are objects that have
survived through time and are interpreted by historians to gain
insights into the past.
Imaginative Reconstruction: Historians engage in a process of

imaginative reconstruction when attempting to understand and
represent historical events. They strive to create a verisimilar or
truth-like image of the past based on available evidence. This
process acknowledges the subjectivity inherent in historical
research, as historians must use their own experiences and
interpretations to construct a narrative of the past. Importantly, the
passage emphasizes that while historians aim for accuracy,
complete certainty about historical events is unattainable.
Difference from Physical Sciences: The passage draws a

distinction between the study of history and the study of the
physical sciences. While physics, for example, can study an
unchanging physical universe, history deals with the past of
humanity, which is complex and ever-changing. Historians must rely
on scattered remnants and records, and their understanding of the
past is constantly evolving as new evidence and interpretations
emerge. This dynamic nature of historical research sets it apart
from the physical sciences.
Historical Method and Historiography: Historical research

involves two main components: historical method and
historiography. Historical method refers to the systematic process of
critically examining and analyzing historical sources, whether they
are documents, artifacts, or other forms of evidence. Historiography,
on the other hand, involves the creative act of reconstructing
history based on the data obtained through historical method.
Together, these components form the foundation of historical
research.
Primary vs. Secondary Sources: In historical research, sources

are categorized into primary and secondary sources. Primary
sources are those that originate directly from eyewitnesses or
individuals who were present during the events they describe. They
provide firsthand accounts of historical events and are considered
valuable for their immediacy and authenticity. Secondary sources,
on the other hand, are accounts provided by individuals who were
not present during the events in question. They are often based on
primary sources or previous historical research and may involve
interpretations or analyses.
Originality of Sources: The passage discusses the term "original

sources" and its various meanings. Original sources can refer to
documents that contain fresh and creative ideas, are in their
earliest, unpolished stage, are in the original language, present the
unmodified text, or are the earliest available sources of information
on a particular topic. It is important to clarify the specific sense in
which "original sources" are used in historical research to avoid
confusion.
Personal Documents: The passage highlights that all documents,

regardless of their intended subject matter, provide insights into the
personality, thoughts, and perspectives of their authors. This
recognition emphasizes the complexity of historical sources and the
need for historians to consider both what a document reveals about
its subject and what it reveals about its author. Whether a document
is approached from a third-person perspective, focusing on its
subject, or from a first-person perspective, exploring the author's
personality, depends on the historian's intent and research goals.
HISTORIOGRAPHY
-Is the history of history
-it covers how historians have studied and developed history
including its sources, techniques, and theoretical
approaches.
-it focuses on how a certain historical text was written, who
wrote it, what was the context of its publication, what
historical methods was employed, what sources were used.
POSITIVISM
- is the school of thought that emerged between 18 th and 19th
century. this thought requires empirical and observable
evidence before one can claim that a particular knowledge
is true.
-Historians were required to show written primary documents
in order to write a particular historical narrative.
POST COLONIALISM
-Is the school of thought that emerged in the early 20th

century when formerly colonized nations grappled with the
idea of creating their identities and understanding their
societies against the shadows of their colonial past
Two Things in Writing History:

1. Tell the history of their nation that will highlight their
identity free from that colonial discourse and knowledge
Enter
2. To criticize the methods, effects, and idea of colonialism
HISTORY AND THE HISTORIAN
Facts cannot speak for themselves. It is the historian's job not

just to seek historical evidences and facts but also to
interpret them. It is their job to give meaning to these
facts and organize them into timeline, establish causes, and
write history.
PRIMARY SOURCES
-(Commonwealth 1935)
-Minutes
-Newspaper clippings
- Records Photographs Eyewitness(es)
SECONDARY SOURCES
-Phil. Revolution 1935) -Teodoro Agoncillo's Revolt of the
Masses 1956
EXTERNAL CRITICISM
the practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by
examining the physical characteristics; consistency with
the historical characteristic of the time when it was
produced, and the materials used for the evidence
INTERNAL CRITICISM
Is the examination of the truthfulness and factuality of the
evidence. It looks at the content of the source and examines
the circumstance of its production. It could be done by
looking at the author, its context, agenda, the purpose
behind its creation.

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Definition of History: History is often defined as "the past of

mankind." This definition implies that history is a study of events,

Limitations of Historical Reconstruction: The passage

Subjectivity vs. Objectivity: The passage discusses the

Imaginative Reconstruction: Historians engage in a process of

Difference from Physical Sciences: The passage draws a

Historical Method and Historiography: Historical research

Primary vs. Secondary Sources: In historical research, sources

Originality of Sources: The passage discusses the term "original

Personal Documents: The passage highlights that all documents,

-Is the school of thought that emerged in the early 20th

Two Things in Writing History:

Facts cannot speak for themselves. It is the historian's job not

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