UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION OF HISTORY

A. EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF THE HISTORY AND ITS

IMPORTANCE

B. EVALUATE PRIMARY SOURCES FOR THEIR

CREDIBILITY, AUTHENTHIC, AND PROVENANACE.

C. MANIFEST THE SENSE OF VALUE TO THE ROLE OF

HISTORY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES.
1.1 HISTORY DEFINED

History Defined History, derived from the Greek word "historian" is the
study of the past and has been around for 2,400 years. It is the account of a
person or group's past through written documents and historical evidences.
Traditional historians believed that only written documents could prove a
historical event, but this was recognized and other historical resources were
used. Some civilizations passed their history by word of mouth, epics, songs,
artifacts, architecture, and memory. Historians can use artifacts, linguistics,
and scientists to study ancient civilizations, trace historical evolutions, and
analyze genetic and DNA patterns of human societies. However, historical
documents and evidences have been tampered with or destroyed during wars
colonization, and other unfortunate events.
 1.2 USES/IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

 Studying history is important because it helps us understand how the past has shaped who we
are today. By studying history, we can learn about changes in human identities, communities, and
civilizations over time. Historians use various methods to explore the diversity of human
experiences, beliefs, and cultural practices. Through studying history, we gain critical insights into
our past and present, helping us navigate global, national, and local interactions and understand
complex issues and challenges.

 Based on the publication of Stearns (1998), the following are the reasons why history is important:

 1. Helps you understand people and societies. Studying history helps us understand people
and societies by providing insights into how they behave and function. It offers a wealth of
information on past experiences, allowing us to appreciate and respect different cultures, beliefs,
and traditions. By learning from history, we can recognize the significance of historical events in
shaping current perspectives and behaviors.
 2. Helps Us Understand Change and How the Society We Live in Came to Be Studying
history helps us understand how society evolves and how the present is shaped by the
past. By examining historical events, we can identify the factors that drive change and
recognize the enduring elements within institutions and societies. History equips us with
the analytical skills to uncover patterns and gain a critical perspective on current and
future challenges, enabling us to address them more effectively.

3. History Contributes to Moral Understanding Studying history allows for moral
reflection by examining the experiences of individuals and situations from the past. It
enables individuals to test and refine their moral compass by considering the ethical
dilemmas faced by people in challenging circumstances.

 4. History Provides Identity Studying history helps individuals and nations establish their
identity by understanding how families, groups, institutions, and countries have formed
and evolved over time while maintaining a sense of unity. By exploring historical data
and piecing together clues from various sources, we can construct narratives that not
only answer questions about the past but also uncover unexpected insights about
different eras and locations.
5. Studying History Is Essential for Good Citizenship
Studying history is crucial for good citizenship as it helps
individuals understand the origins and implications of
changes that impact citizens' lives. By studying history,
individuals develop critical thinking skills that are essential
for responsible public engagement, whether as leaders,
voters, activists, or informed community members.
1.3 STUDYING HISTORY FROM THE FILIPINO POINT OF VIEW

This passage discusses the evolution of Filipino historical perspectives, highlighting the shift from
colonial to nationalist to a uniquely Filipino approach called ’’pantayong pananaw.”

Initially, Spanish colonizers viewed pre-colonial Filipino history as a "dark period" and their arrival
as bringing "light" through Western thought and Christianity. This "bipartite view" was challenged by
early Filipino nationalists who saw pre-colonial times as a "luminous age" and the colonial period as a
"dark age."

Zeus Salazar's "pantayong pananaw" further revolutionized Filipino historiography. It emphasizes a

"from-us-to-us" perspective, using Philippine languages to create a "closed circuit of interaction"
between academic discourse and indigenous knowledge. This approach aims to reclaim and re-interpret
Filipino history from a uniquely Filipino perspective, challenging the colonial "pang-kayo" (external)
perspective and promoting the "pang-kami" (internal) perspective.
 SOURCES OF HISTORY AND AND HISTORICAL SOURCES

In knowing and understanding history we need to gather tidbits of information from various sources be it
written or not. These sources are your way of peering into the past. Scott Michael Rank, a historian, defined
historical sources as, at their most basic level, something that tells us about history. It may be a document, a
picture, a sound recording, a book, a cinema film, a television program or an object. Any sort of artifact from the
period in question that conveys information can qualify as a source (Scott, 2020).

THREE TYPES OF HISTORICAL SOURCES

1. PRIMARY SOURCES - sources produced at the same time as the event, period, or subject being studied. For
example: The original manuscript, firsthand account written by Italian explorer Antonio Pigafetta's (chronicler)
during the Magellan’s expedition.

2. SECONDARY SOURCES- produced by the author who used primary resources to produce the material. For
example: Danilo Gerona published a book entitled Ferdinand Magellan: The Armada de Maluco and the European
Discovery of the Philippines using the Pigafetta’s manuscripts and other primary sources

3. . TERTIARY SOURCES- Indexes, bibliographies, concordances, and databases may not provide much textual
information, but as aggregates of primary and secondary sources, they are often considered tertiary sources.
Almanacs, travel guides, field guides, and timelines are also examples of tertiary sources.
 1.4 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CRITICISMS
Internal and External Criticisms To ensure that historians will come up with historical truth and
investigate on controversial historical hoaxes, historians shall conduct internal and external criticisms.
INTERNAL CRITICISM
is crucial in assessing the truthfulness of historical evidence, examining the author, context,
knowledge, agenda, and intended purpose. It helps historians avoid interpreting war propaganda and
unverified sources, leading to false conclusions. For example, the hoax Code of Kalantiaw in
Philippine history, a pre-colonial document allegedly written by Datu Kalantiaw, was debunked by
William Henry Scott due to lack of evidence.

EXTERNAL CRITICISM
examination of physical characteristics consistency with the historical characteristic of the time
when it was produced; and the materials used. Example of the thing to be examined when conducting
an 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 (Alphora & Candelaria, 2018).