Lesson 2: Historical Criticisms

• What is the origin of the word "history"?

  It is derived from the Greek word *historia*, meaning knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation.
• What does history study according to the provided material?

  History studies past human activity, people, societies, and civilizations leading to the present day.
• What are the three important concepts in the definition of history?

  History is based on past events, interpreted by historians, and relies on historical sources.
• How long has history existed as a discipline?

  History has existed for around 2,400 years.
• What is the historian's duty according to the material?

  The historian's duty is to write about the lives of important individuals and significant events.
• What mantra did traditional historians live by?

  "No document, no history."
• What is the primary job of a historian?

  A historian seeks historical evidence, interprets facts, and organizes them into a timeline.
• How does a historian's context influence their work?

  A historian is influenced by their own context, environment, ideology, education, and other factors.
• What does historical methodology comprise?

  Historical methodology comprises techniques and rules that historians follow to source and analyze historical evidence.
• What are the two classifications of historical sources?

  Historical sources can be classified as primary and secondary sources.
• What are primary sources?

  Primary sources are produced by contemporaries of the event and include eyewitness testimonies.
• What are some common examples of primary sources?

  Examples include archival documents, artifacts, memorabilia, letters, and government records.
• What are secondary sources?

  Secondary sources are produced by authors who analyze and interpret primary sources.
• What is the primary goal of historical criticism?

  The primary goal is to discover the original historical context and literal sense of a text.
• What does external criticism examine?

  External criticism examines the authenticity of evidence by analyzing its physical characteristics and historical context.
• What is an anachronism?

  An anachronism is something that is out of time or order, such as a person or idea placed in the wrong time.
• What does internal criticism examine?

  Internal criticism examines the truthfulness of evidence by looking at the content and context of the source.
• What factors are considered in internal criticism?

  Factors include the author's reliability, context, age, and intended purpose of the source.
• Who is Juan Luna?


  Juan Luna was a Filipino painter born on October 24, 1857, in Badoc, Ilocos Norte.
• What is "The Parisian Life"?

  "The Parisian Life" is an oil on canvas painting created by Juan Luna in 1892.
• How does the painting "The Parisian Life" relate to Philippine history?

  The painting can be interpreted as a mirror image of the Philippine archipelago, highlighting significant geographical and historical connections.
• What are the five main categories of primary sources?

  1. Written Sources: documents, letters, newspapers, etc.
  2. Numerical Records: any type of numerical data.
  3. Oral Statements: statements made orally by eyewitnesses.
  4. Artifacts: physical objects from the past.
  5. Visual Sources: images, paintings, and photographs.
• What is the significance of the year 1892 in Philippine history?

  The year 1892 marked a turning point with the failure of the propaganda movement and the establishment of the Katipunan.
• How can visual arts serve as primary sources in education?

  Visual arts can motivate students to engage with national history and inspire action for their country.
• What does the provenance of a document refer to?

  Provenance refers to the place of origin or earliest known history of a document.
• What is the significance of the painting "The Parisian Life" in the context of Juan Luna's career?

  It is considered one of the last major works Luna completed during his time in Paris.
• How did Juan Luna's education influence his career as a painter?

  He took painting lessons in Escuela de Bellas de San Fernando but dropped out to work with another painter.
• What does the content analysis of "The Parisian Life" reveal about its historical significance?

  It reveals connections between the painting and significant events in Philippine history, such as the declaration of independence.
• What are telics in the context of historical analysis?

  Telics are objects whose physical or visual characteristics can provide information about the past, including artifacts, ruins, and fossils.
• What types of images are included in historical analysis?

  Images include photographs, posters, paintings, drawings, cartoons, and maps.
• What are the key components of content and contextual analysis of primary sources in Philippine history?

  • Background of the Author/Creator
  • Background of the Document/Primary Source
  • Content Analysis of Historical Information
  • Relevance of the Document in Understanding Philippine History
  • Relevance of the Documents to the Present Time
• What should be included in the background of the author or creator of a primary source?

  A brief biographical sketch including family background, educational attainment, and religion.
• What is the significance of checking the provenance of a primary source?

  It helps to establish the origin and authenticity of the document.
• What does content analysis of a primary source involve?


  It involves looking for corroboration between research gathered from the internet and the primary source.
• Why is it important to analyze the relevance of a document in understanding Philippine history?

  To identify the causes and consequences of historical events as presented in the primary source.
• What does the relevance of documents to the present time entail?

  It involves examining the historical significance or what modern people consider important from the past.
• What is the significance of Pigafetta's Chronicle in Philippine history?

  It is one of the most cited documents for studying the precolonial Philippines.
• Why was Pigafetta considered a credible source for a previously unchronicled period?

  Because he documented events and observations during a time that lacked written records.
• What was Antonio Pigafetta's role during the voyage he documented?


  He was a chronicler commissioned by the King of Spain to document the voyage intended to expand the Spanish empire.
• How did Pigafetta's background influence his observations of the natives?

  His sixteenth-century European perspective led him to remark on the natives' nakedness and exotic culture.