Module 1 - History: Definition, Nature, Methodology and Importance

Tarlac State University

College of Arts and Social Sciences

Readings in Philippine History (SS1C)
MODULE 1 | HISTORY:
Definition, Nature,
Methodology and
Importance
RATIONALE
Module 1 introduces to students the discipline of
History and its domain. The students are expected
to understand the methodology of History and
appreciate its importance.
Practically, this module aims to develop student’s
skill in evaluating historical sources for their
credibility, authenticity, and provenance, as well as
analyzing the context, content, and perspective of
different kinds of sources, especially in this times
of historical revisionism and post-truth.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. The student is to study this module at his own pace within
the time frame set by the instructor. Check the OBTL
syllabus for guidance.
2. Online lectures or recitations about this module may be
scheduled at the instructor’s discretion.
3. Video links for subtopics are also provided in this module.
4. References, Supplemental and Additional readings are also
given for further understanding and appreciation of the
lesson.
5. Self-Check Test are also available for student’s self-
assessment. Respective instructors may ask the students to
submit answers via agreed platforms.
LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Comprehend the definition, nature, methodology

and domain of History
2. Appreciate the importance of History
3. Distinguish between primary and secondary
sources
4. Evaluate sources for their credibility,
authenticity, and provenance
5. Validate sources through historical criticism
MODULE OUTLINE
I. Definition of History
A. Etymology
B. Nature
C. Historiography
D. Elements
E. Why Do We Study History (Importance)
F. Who Investigates History and its Relationship to other disciplines
II. Sources in History
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Tertiary
III. Historical Criticism
A. External
B. Internal
C. Debunking “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” and “Code of Kalantiaw” through Historical Criticism
Principle of continuity
“No document, no history”
“HISTORY”
– is a branch of the Social Sciences that deals with

the systematic study of SIGNIFICANT PAST, a
branch of knowledge that records and explains
past events and which concerns people and
human nature
“HISTORY”
– Comes from the Greek word “ Historie or

“Historia” which means learning, inquiry and or
investigation.
– It is the past of mankind.
– It is the story of the human experience.

NATURE OF HISTORY
1. It has no subject matter of its

own.
2. It synthesizes knowledge from
many fields
3. It illuminates pieces of the past
NATURE OF HISTORY
4. It constantly changing.
5. It searches for the truth

“HISTORIOGRAPHY”
– refers to the study of history itself.

– Historiography analyzes 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
ELEMENTS OF HISTORY
1.The Historian
2.Place
3.Period (Time Element)
4.Sources
QUESTIONS
1. History is a western concept while kasaysayan
is a Filipino concept. Are the two concepts
completely the same?
2. It is consistent that the definition of history
studies only recorded past. Is this the same with
kasaysayan?
3. How does history link the past, present and
future?
4. Is history just a matter of chronology?
THE HISTORICAL
METHOD:
HOW DO WE
SYSTEMATICALLY
STUDY HISTORY?
Primary and Secondary

Sources
WATCH: “XTX3 Xiao Time
X3: Sources sa Kasaysayan at
Pagkritika Nito”
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?
v=GTmkJ4cHleQ&list=P
LPozg80exzd1Kha4h__
A7Ko2Z_xkVMEFi&inde
x=2
SOURCES/”BATIS”/”
SANGGUNIAN”
– Refers to the basis of claims or
analysis of the historian. They serve as
the evidences utilized in the study of
history.
– Sources can be primary and secondary.
There is also a special type of
secondary source often referred to as
tertiary sources
Primary Source
– provides direct or firsthand evidence about an

event, object, person, or work of art. These are
the evidences by eyewitnesses or created by
people who experienced the said event or
phenomena
Other examples:
– historical and legal documents
– eyewitness accounts
– results of experiments
– statistical data, pieces of creative writing, audio
and video recordings, speeches, and art objects.
– Interviews, surveys, fieldwork, and Internet
communications via email, blogs, and newsgroups
Secondary sources
– are interpretations of history. They describe,

discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze,
evaluate, summarize, and process primary
sources. These are the products of people or
writers who were not part of the event or
phenomena.
TERTIARY SOURCES
– Special type of secondary sources which

contain information that has been compiled
from primary and secondary sources.
– Tertiary sources include almanacs,
chronologies, dictionaries and
encyclopedias, directories, guidebooks,
indexes, abstracts, manuals, and textbooks
HOW DO WE
VALIDATE
OUR
SOURCES?
External and Internal Criticism

External Criticism
– covers the physical examinations of sources

– Genuineness and authenticity test
– includes looking at the paper and ink used
whether or not it is within the same circa as the
content of the work
– “ Kritikang Panlabas”/ “Kritika ng Katunayan”/
“Kritika ng Kapanaligan”
Elements to consider:
– Authorship
– Date and place of publication
– Textual errors
– Meanings of words used
Internal Criticism
– understanding of both literal and real meaning of
words
– analysis and interpretation of the contents of the
sources in their real meaning
– Trustworthiness test
– “ Kritikang Panloob”/ “Kritika ng Katotohanan”/
“Kritika ng Kapaliwanagan”
– Jose Rizal’s poem “ Sa Aking Mga
Kabata” and the alleged pre-
colonial written code “ Kodigo ni
Kalantiaw” were debunked through
historical criticism.
WATCH: “Xiao Time: Tulang Sa
Aking Mga Kabata, si Dr. Jose
Rizal nga ba ang sumulat?”
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=87fZdVNdW
OE
WATCH : “Xiao Time: Ang
Kodigo ni Kalantiaw”
https://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=kFjr9_
azT6s
QUESTIONS
1. Does it always follow that primary sources
should be given more weight than secondary
sources?
2. What are the significance of understanding
sources and historical criticism?
KEY POINTS
Key Points
– History is a branch of the Social Sciences that
deals with the systematic study of SIGNIFICANT
PAST, a branch of knowledge that records and
explains past events and which concerns people
and human nature
– History has no subject matter of its own. It
synthesizes knowledge from many fields. It
illuminates pieces of the past. It constantly
changing. It is subjective and it searches for the
truth
Key Points
– Historiography refers to the study of history itself.
It analyzes 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.
– The elements of history are: the historian, place,
period and sources
– The focal point in the study of history are the
people and its nature. History being a branch of
social science
Key Points
– There are bountiful reasons why we have to learn
history.
– Other fields of knowledge such as Archaeology,
Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, Politics are
important in the study of history.
– History being a discipline follows a methodology in order
to establish facts or evidences. Evidences in history are
known as Sources. They can be primary, secondary or
tertiary.
– In order to validate these sources, they must undergo
Historical Criticism , first is external then internal.
SELF-CHECK TEST
SELF-CHECK TEST
Identify the following:

1.Greek word which means “ learning, inquiry and
or investigation”
2.Refers to the basis of claims or analysis of the
historian. They serve as the evidences utilized in
the study of history
3.Branch of social science that deals with the
scientific study of material remains of past human
life and activities
Identification
4. Special type of secondary sources which contain
information that has been compiled from primary
and secondary sources.
5. Branch of social science which deals with the
study of human beings and their ancestors through
time and space and in relation to physical character,
environmental and social relations and culture
Identification
6. Historical criticism which covers the examination
of the accuracy in the contents of historical
sources.
7. In Rizal’s poem “ Sa Aking Mga Kabata” , this
term was repeatedly used and was eventually
employed by historians to debunk his poem
8. He is the person responsible for the introduction
of Code of Kalantiaw through the Pavon
Manuscripts, which were later on debunked
Multiple choice
1. In the definition of history, the term “systematic”
means_______
A . history follows a methodology in which it establishes
facts and evidences
B. history follows a perspective in which it sets a paradigm
to settle its complexity
C. history follows a methodology in which it provides
historical criticisms
D. history follows a perspective in which it enables a
multifaceted analysis a certain period
Multiple choice
2. Who/what is the focal point in study of history?
A. period C. people
B. place D. sources
3. Which of the following is NOT a nature of history as

an academic discipline?
A.History is universal as to other cultures
B.History synthesizes knowledge from other fields
C.History has no subject of its own
D.History sheds light to truth
Multiple choice
4. Primary sources provide ___________________________________
A. formal evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art.
These are the evidences by textbooks or created by people who
interpreted the said event or phenomena
B. direct evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art.
These are the evidences by textbooks or created by people who
interpreted the said event or phenomena
C. direct evidences about an event, object, person, or work of art.
These are the evidences by eyewitnesses or created by people who
experienced the said event or phenomena
D. formal evidences about an event, object, person, or work of art.
These are the evidences by eyewitnesses or created by people who
experienced the said event or phenomena
Multiple choice
5. Rojon visited the United States for a few months to see his relatives who have lived there
for decades. His uncle brought him tours around Illinois. Rojon visited the Field Museum of
Natural History where a golden sculpture of a woman caught his eye. Alongside the
sculpture was a caption from the researchers of the museum stating that “ This image
originated from Agusan del Sur and believed to be made prior to the arrival of the Spaniards
in the Philippines.”
The golden image is __________ source and the caption is a ______ source respectively.
A. Primary; Secondary
B. Primary; Tertiary
C. Secondary; Primary
D. Tertiary; Primary
E. Secondary; Tertiary
Fill-up the table. Provide your
own example
Type Primary Secondary

Sources Sources
Books
Visual Materials
Audio Material
Serials
ADDITIONAL/
SUGGESTED
READINGS
Additional/ Suggested Readings
– Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History, (pp. 41- 61; 117-

170)
– Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources, (pp. 17-68)
– Santiago Alvarez, Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a
General, (pp. 184-187)
– Teodoro Agoncillo, History of the Filipino People, (pp. 184-
187)
– Robert Fox, The Tabon Caves, (pp. 40-44; 109- 119). [mga
labí ng tao at mga artifak)
– William Henry Scott, Prehispanic Source Materials for the
Study of Philippine History (pp. 90- 135)
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Tarlac State University

College of Arts and Social Sciences

1. Comprehend the definition, nature, methodology

II. Sources in History

III. Historical Criticism

– is a branch of the Social Sciences that deals with

– Comes from the Greek word “ Historie or

– It is the past of mankind.

– It is the story of the human experience.

1. It has no subject matter of its

5. It searches for the truth

– refers to the study of history itself.

Primary and Secondary

– provides direct or firsthand evidence about an

– are interpretations of history. They describe,

– Special type of secondary sources which

External and Internal Criticism

– covers the physical examinations of sources

Identify the following:

3. Which of the following is NOT a nature of history as

Type Primary Secondary

– Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History, (pp. 41- 61; 117-

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