socsci 2

• History


  Learning/knowledge acquired by investigation
• Traditional/Common definition of history

  • A record of the past
  • Narration of events which have happened among mankind
• Modern definitions of history (Historians)

  • Reconstruction of the past based on written records, oral, cultural artifacts, and folk traditions
  • Imaginative reconstruction of the past, the study of events of the past or concerning people in the past
• Historian's tasks


  1. Interpret the facts in an orderly and intelligible manner

  2. Discover patterned and trends which govern the behavior of the people and nations and make generalization of it
• Subjectivity


  If there are no objects or clear evidence then the reconstruction is built merely from the historian's own understanding and mind
• Objectivity


  It must be an object and must have an independent existence from the human mind
• Why learning history is important

  • Bridging the gap between the past and the present
  • Predicting the Future
  • Interpreting the conditions of a certain time period
  • Promoting Patriotism and love for country
  • Relationship with other social sciences
• Historical Sources


  An object from the past or testimony concerning on the past on which historians depend upon to create their depiction of the past
• Primary Sources


  Enable the researcher to get as close to as possible to what actually happened during a historical event or time period
• Secondary Sources


  A source written about a primary source. It is written after the fact at a later date by someone who have studied the primary sources of a historical event or period and then will interpret it
• Advantages of using Primary Sources

  • Unfiltered access to the record of a historical event produced by people who actually lived during that time period or experienced it
  • Provides a very real insight to what it was like living during that time period
• Disadvantages of using Primary Sources

  • Have little context and is often incomplete, thus must require students to use their imagination to fill in gaps
  • Moves from concrete facts to interpretation fast
• Advantages of using Secondary Sources

  • Provides analysis, synthesis, and interpretation of something by someone who is already very knowledgeable in the topic
  • Best for uncovering background information about the topic or broadening your knowledge on different perspectives about the topic
• Disadvantages of using Secondary Sources

  • Their reliability or validity can be questionable or incorrect
  • May contain bias or subjective opinions
  • There are multiple written works about it that it becomes overwhelming
• Types of Written Sources of History

  • Narrative or Library
  • Diplomatic or Juridical
  • Social Documents
• Objects historians can study

  • Artifacts
  • Written Documents
  • Historical Criticism
• Criteria for External Criticism

  • To spot fabricated, forced and fake documents and to distinguish a hoax or misinterpretation
  • Test of Authenticity
• Test of Authenticity


  • Determine the date of the document to see if they are anachronistic
  • Determine the credibility of the author
  • Look at the way of writing—did it match the time period that it was written in
  • Anachronistic reference to events
  • Provenance or custom
  • Semantics
• Criteria for Internal Criticism

  • Problem of credibility and relevant particulars in the documents
  • Verisimilar – as close to as what really happened from a critical examination of available sources
• Test of Credibility


  • Identification of the author (his reliability and qualifications)
  • Determination of the approximate date (handwriting, signature or seal)
  • Ability to tell truth (nearness to the event. Competence of witness and degree of attention)
• Major Views or Philosophies in the study of History

  • Cyclical View
  • Providential view
  • Progressive or linear view
  • Relativist View
• Various Approaches to the study of Philippines History

  • Clerico Imperialist School
  • Assimilation view
  • Democratic – Imperial School
  • Nationalist – Realist Transition School
  • Pure Nationalistic School
• Reasons for Interpreting Philippine history from a Filipino Point of View

  • Filipino's view of history is better than that of his colonial masters
  • Foreign interpretation is biased and prejudicial. The judgement of Philippine history takes into account the colonial master's interest
• Content


  The major point or meaning of the primary source in its historical context
• Contextual Analysis


  Combines features of formal analysis with features of "cultural archeology, " or the systematic study of social, political, economic, philosophical, religious, and aesthetic conditions that were (or can be assumed to have been) in place at the time and place when the text was created
• Pigafetta was a Venetian scholar and explorer who joined the Spanish expedition to the Spice Islands led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the world's first circumnavigation, and is best known for being the chronicler of the voyage
• Pigafetta was a scholar in the 16th century of cartography and geography, and was able to give details on geography and climate of the places that their voyage had reached
• Pigafetta's chronicle is one of the most cited documents by historians to study pre-colonial Philippines and is considered a credible source
• Pigafetta remarked on the nakedness of the natives and was fascinated by their exotic culture
• Pigafetta emphasized the native's amazement and illiteracy to the European artillery, merchandise, and other goods
• Pigafetta's perspective was too narrow to realize that the native's attire was only appropriate to the tropical climate of the islands
• Pigafetta mentioned the materials used by the natives for their houses like palm and bamboo
• Pigafetta mentioned the belief systems of Filipinos that differ from the Europeans
• Pigafetta always mentioned the abundance of gold & spices in the islands
• The KKK & Kartilya ng Katipunan reveals a thorough understanding of the Katipunan and the significant role that it played in the revolution
• The KKK & Kartilya ng Katipunan was used to overthrow the government
• Pigafetta


  A scholar in the 16th century of cartography and geography, he was able to give details on geography and climate of the places that their voyage had reached
• Pigafetta is best known for being the chronicler of the voyage
• Pigafetta's materials are one of the most cited documents by historians to study pre-colonial Philippines
• Pigafetta would always remark on the nakedness of the natives or how he was fascinated by their exotic culture