Introduction to History:

Definition, Issues, Sources and

Methodology

Module 2
“What is past is past. Time to move
on” –Unknown
1) History is…..
• History is the study of the past.
• Memorized dates, places, names and events from
distant eras.
• Derived from the Greek term “historia” which
means “inquiry or research”.
• Herodotus the father of history defined it as a
never-ending dialogue of events between the past
and the present.
Following are the definitions indicating
the meaning and scope of history:
Scholars Description

Burckhardt “History is the record of what one age finds worthy of note in
another.”

Henry “History, in its broadest sense, is everything that ever happened.”

Johnson

Smith, V.S. “The value and interest of history depend largely on the degree
in which the present is illuminated by the past.”
Following are the definitions indicating the
meaning and scope of history:

Rapson “History is a connected account of the course of events or

progress of ideas.”

NCERT “History is the scientific study of past happenings in all

their aspects, in the life of a social group, in the light of
present happenings.”

Jawaharlal Nehru “History is the story of Man’s struggle through the ages
against Nature and the elements; against wild beasts
and the jungle and some of his own kind who have
tried to keep him down and to exploit him for their
own benefit.”
a. Definition and etymology of
history
The origin of the word History is associated with the Greek
word “historia” which means “information” or “an enquiry
designed to elicit truth”.
Existed for around 2,400 years and is as old as mathematics
and philosophy.
Adapted to classical Latin where it acquired a new
definition.
b. Elements of history
P Politics, what government influenced society
E Economics, where money dominates and effects people. Most social
classes are based on money and money is usually what causes conflict
in history.

R Religion, a total impact on Europe during the 15 th century. Religion is

important as it affects one’s beliefs and thoughts.

S Social, how the upper class, middle class and poor class communicate;
and how they interact with each other.
I Intelligence and knowledge that has progress in history.
 

A Art, paintings and pictures produced throughout the course of time.

Did you know?
Today, modern history has gone beyond the traditional status of an
antiquarian and leisure time pursuit to a very useful and indispensable part
of a man’s education.
It is more scientific and more comprehensive. It has expanded in all
directions both vertically and horizontally. It has become broad-based and
attractive.
According to modern concept, history does not contain only the
history of kings and queens, battles and generals, but the history of the
common man-his house and clothing, his fields and their cultivation, his
continued efforts to protect his home and hearth, and to obtain a just
government, his aspirations, achievements, disappointments, defeats and
failures.
c. History as a social sciences and its
relation to other fields of disciplines
a. History A historian is not merely concerned with the tracing of the history of the political
and Political process by a narration of the episodes. But he has to learn the nature of
Science fundamental political principles and basic forms of political institution.

b. History History is closely related to economics as the activities of man in society are
and very closely related with the economic matters. Thus, the historian of any
Economics period must possess at least a rudimentary knowledge of the economics. In
fact, the economic history of any period is an important branch of history
and its understanding is absolutely essential for the proper understanding of
history of any period.

As a social science, history has been known as the study of the past. It is unique because it can be
almost effortlessly connected to other academic disciplines.
History as a social sciences and its relation
to other fields of disciplines cont…
c. History Both history and sociology are concerned with the study of man in
and society and differed only with regard to their approach. Max Weber
Sociology acknowledges the initial dependence of sociology upon history.
Although, history too benefits from the interaction.

d. History A historian must have to show some psychological insights while making
and an analysis of the motive and actions of men and societies. Historian
Psychology work would be mere fiction unless her uses the discoveries of modern
psychology. The personal life and the environment of a historian has a
direct bearing in his decision and often import a bias to his account and
renders the much desired objectivity impossible.

e. History It would be impossible to study certain branches of history

and without rudimentary knowledge of geography. Geology is
Geography one of the eyes of history, the other eye being
chronology. Time and space factors give history its correct
perspective.
2) Questions and Issues in
History
• History as a discipline has already turned into
complex and dynamic inquiry.
• Questions: What is history? Why study history? And
history for whom?
Historiography/ historical method (Internal and External)

•History and historiography are two different things. History is a discipline

that focuses on studying the past; while historiography or historical
method is the history itself.

•To make it clearer, historiography lets the students have a better

understanding of history. They do not only get to learn historical facts, but
they are also provided with the understanding of the facts’ and historians’
contexts. The methods employed by the historian and the theory and
perspective, which guide him, will also, are analyzed.

•Essentially, historiography comprises the techniques and guidelines by

which historians use primary sources and other evidence to research and
then to write histories in the form of accounts of the past. The question of
the nature, and even the possibility, of a sound historical method is raised.
Historiography/ historical method (Internal and External)

•History and historiography are two different things. History is a discipline

that focuses on studying the past; while historiography or historical
method is the history itself.

•To make it clearer, historiography lets the students have a better

understanding of history. They do not only get to learn historical facts, but
they are also provided with the understanding of the facts’ and historians’
contexts. The methods employed by the historian and the theory and
perspective, which guide him, will also, are analyzed.

•Essentially, historiography comprises the techniques and guidelines by

which historians use primary sources and other evidence to research and
then to write histories in the form of accounts of the past. The question of
the nature, and even the possibility, of a sound historical method is raised.
The following are some procedures for people who wanted
to employ historiography, as proposed by Bernheim
(1889) and Langlois & Seignobos (1898):

• If the sources all agree about an event, historians consider the event
proved.
a.
• However, majority does no rule; even if most sources relate events in
one way, that version will not prevail unless it passes the test of
b. critical textual analysis.

• The source whose account can be confirmed by reference to outside

authorities in some of its parts can be trusted in its entirety if it is
c. impossible similarly to confirm the entire text.
The following are some procedures for people who wanted to employ historiography,
as proposed by Bernheim (1889) and Langlois & Seignobos (1898):

• When two sources disagree on a particular point, the historian will

prefer the source with most “authority”-that is the source created by
d. the eyewitness.

• Eyewitnesses are, in general, to be preferred especially in

circumstances where the ordinary observer could have accurately
reported what transpired and, more specifically, when they deal facts
e. known by most contemporaries.

• If two independently created sources agree on a matter, the reliability

of each is measurably enhanced.
f.
The following are some procedures for people who wanted
to employ historiography, as proposed by Bernheim
(1889) and Langlois & Seignobos (1898):

• When two sources disagree and there is no

other means of evaluation, then historians take
the source which seems to accord best with
common sense.
g.
Other methods also used are as
follows:
a. Positivism Emphasizes the mantra “no document, no history”, where historian were
required to show written primary documents in order to write a particular
historical narrative.

b. Emerged in the twentieth century when formerly colonized nations

Postcolonialism grappled with the idea of creating their identities and understanding their
societies against the shadows of their colonial past.

c. Pantayong Highlights the importance of facilitating an internal conversation

pananaw (for us- and discourse among Filipinos about our own history, using the
from us language that is understood by everyone.
perspective)
3. History and the Historian
Q1: Is it possible to come up with an absolute historical
truth?
Q2: Is history an objective discipline?
Q3: If it is not, is it still worthwhile to study history?

“Facts cannot speak for themselves”.

Annales School of History
• Challenged the canons of history, stating that history
should not only be concerned of states and monarchs.
Historical Sources: Distinction of
primary and secondary sources
Primary sources are those sources produced at the same time as the event, period,
or subject being studied. It contains original information that is not derived
from interpretation, summarizing or analyzing someone else’s work.

• Furthermore, they are first-hand and not interpreted by anyone else, they offer a
personal point of view, and are created by a witnesses of, or participants in, an event.
Examples of these are diaries, letters and official records.

On the other hand, secondary sources are those sources, which were produced
by an author who used primary sources to produce the material. In other
words, secondary sources are historical sources, which studied a certain
historical subject.

• Examples are biography of a famous person or a documentary about a historic

event, book that provides an introduction to a theorist’s work or critiques; or an
article that reviews research in a particular area and provides a summary of
the key findings.
Aside from these procedures, historiography also
involves the employment of internal and
external criticisms.

External criticism

• External criticism is the practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by examining its
physical characteristics; consistency with the historical characteristic of the time when it was produced;
and the materials used for the evidence.

Examples of the things that will be examined when conducting external

criticism of a document include the quality of the paper, the type of ink and the
language and words used in the material, among others.
Aside from these procedures, historiography also involves the
employment of internal and external criticisms cont…..

Internal criticism

On the other hand, is the examination of the truthfulness of the evidence.

It looks at the content of the source and examines the circumstance of its
production.
Sources of Historical Data

a. Published documents-created for large b. Unpublished documents-

audiences and were distributed widely. (i.e. personal in nature and may be difficult to
books, magazines, newspapers government find because of few copies existing. (i.e.
documents, pamphlets, posters, laws and diaries, journals, school report cards and
court decisions) business ledgers)

c. Oral traditions/oral histories-provide d. Visual documents and articles- include

another way to learn about the past from photographs, films, paintings and other
people with firsthand knowledge of types of works. Visual documents usually
historical events capture moments in time.
Importance/Relevance of Studying History

• In 1998, an article entitled "Why Study History?", Peter

Stearns made the following observations:

• “People live in the present. They plan for and worry about
the future. History, however, is the study of the past. Given
all the demands that press in from living in the present and
anticipating what is yet to come, why bother with what has
been? Given all the desirable and available branches of
knowledge, why insist—as most American [and, in this
case, British] educational programs do—on a good bit of
history? And why urge many students to study even more
history than they are required to?”
He also added the following importance of history:

• History helps us understand people and societies.

• History helps us understand change and how the society we
live in came to be.
• History contributes to moral understanding.
• History provides identity.
• Studying history is essential for good citizenship.
Whilst, according to Pallavi Talekau, Dr. Jyotrimayee
Nayak and Dr.S.Harichandan, the following are the
other importance/values of history:

a. Disciplinary value History is quite fruitful for mental training. It trains the mental
faculties such as critical thinking, memory and imagination. It
quickens and deepens understanding, gives an insight into the working
of social, political, economic, and religious problems.

b. Informative value History is a wonderful treasure-house of information and can offer

guidance for the solution to all human problems pertaining to science
and art, language and literature, social and political life, philosophical
speculation and economic development.

c. Cultural and It is essential that one should understand the importance of his/her own
social values cultural and social values.

d. Political values History is regarded to be the past politics. According to T.S. Seeley,
“The historian is a politician of the political group or organization,
the state being his study.
Whilst, according to Pallavi Talekau, Dr. Jyotrimayee
Nayak and Dr.S.Harichandan, the following are the
other importance/values of history:

e. Nationalistic value History teaching renders an effective service in imbibing

the young minds with a sense of patriotism.
f. Internationalistic History shows the dependence and
value interdependence of nations which is the root of
internationalism. The domain of history is very extensive
and wide.
g. Educational value History has unique value and importance because it is the
only school subject which is directly and entirely
concerned with the behavior and action of human beings.
h. Intellectual value A large number of intellectual values accrue from the
teaching of history.
Whilst, according to Pallavi Talekau, Dr. Jyotrimayee Nayak and
Dr.S.Harichandan, the following are the other importance/values of
history:

i. Ethical value History is important in the curriculum because it helps in

the teaching of morality. Through it a child comes close to
the valuable thoughts of saints, reformers, leaders,
important persons and sages. The children get inspired by
the life stories of these great leaders. There are other
arguments that go against this notion that history gives
ethical teaching.

j. Vocational value History has its vocational value. There are several
openings for persons well qualified in the subject. They
can get jobs of teachers, librarians, archivists, curators of
museums, secretaries of institutions, social service
workers, and political journalists etc.
"A generation which ignores history has no past and
no future.“
-Robert Heinlein

"Live out of your imagination, not your history."

-Stephen Covey

“Study the past if you would define the future.”

-Confucius
Group Work
Assessment/Evaluation
Primary Sources Vs. Secondary Sources
Instructions:
Using the Venn diagram below, compare and contrast the characteristics of
primary and secondary source materials. Give an explanation for the
overlapping characteristics on the space provided.

Primary Secondary

Explanation for overlapping concepts:

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End of Module 2