HIST 11 – READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
MODULE 1
MEANING OF HISTORY
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
A. Discuss the meaning of history.
B. Differentiate theories constructed by historians in investigating history.
C. Construct samples of historical data using the different theories of
history
INTRODUCTION
We always hear the word history everywhere. But what is the real meaning of
history? Do you have your own meaning of what is history? And have you figured out
its importance to our daily life?
ANALYSIS
Before you start studying this module, take this simple test to find out how much
you already know about the topics to be discussed.
A. Complete the following statements by filling in the blanks.
_____________1. History deals with the study of ___________ events.
_____________2. History is derived from the Greek word ___________ which means
learning by inquiry.
_____________3. Historian’s aim is ___________ which means the truth,
authenticity, plausibility about a past.
_____________4. Historians investigate, collects, and examine ___________.
B. Write TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE if otherwise.
_____________1. From the incomplete evidence, historians strive to restore the
total past of mankind.
_____________2. Historiography is the traditional method in doing historical
research that focus on gathering of documents from different libraries and
archives to form a pool of evidence needed in making descriptive or analytical
narrative.
_____________3. Unlike the study of the Natural Science that has subjectively
measurable phenomena, the study of History is an objective process as
documents and relics are scattered and do not together comprise the total
object that the historian is studying.
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Well, how was it? Do you think you answered well? Compare your answers with
the Answer Key below.
Answer Key
A. Fill in the blanks:
1. past / past significant
2. historia
3. verisimilitude
4. historical data/sources
B. True or false:
1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. FALSE - Unlike the study of the Natural Science that has subjectively
(OBJECTIVELY) measurable phenomena, the study of History is an objective
(SUBJECTIVE) process as documents and relics are scattered and do not
together comprise the total object that the historian is studying.
If all of your answers are correct, very good! You may still study the module to
review what you already know. Who knows, you might learn a few more new things
as well.
If you got a low score, don’t feel bad. This only means that this module is for
you. It will help you understand some important concepts that you can apply in your
daily life. If you study this module carefully, you will learn the answers to all items in
the test and a lot more! Are you ready?
You may go to the next page to begin Lesson 1.
ABSTRACTION
Lesson 1: Meaning of History
Etymologically, History is derived from the Greek word historia which means
learning by inquiry or knowledge acquired by investigation. It is a systematic
accounting of a set of the natural phenomena that is taking into consideration the
chronological arrangement of the account.
On the other side, the events occurring before written record are considered
prehistoric; an umbrella term that relates to past events as well as the memory,
discovery, collection, organization, presentation and interpretation of information
about these events. Hence, scholars who write about history are called Historians.
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History is a narration of the events which have happened among mankind, including
an account of the rise and fall of the nations, as well as of other great changes which
have affected the political and social condition of the human race.
- John Anderson, 1876. A Manual of General History
Aristotle is a Greek philosopher who looked upon history as the systematic
accounting of a set of natural phenomena considering the chronological
arrangement of the account.
There are theories constructed by historians in investigating history which are
Factual and Speculative History.
• FACTUAL HISTORY
o It presents readers the plain and basic information, the events that
took place (what), the time and date with which the event
happened (when), the place with which the event took place, and
the people that were involved (who).
• SPECULATIVE HISTORY
o It goes beyond facts because it is concerned about the reasons for
which events happened (why), and the way they happened (how).
Also, Speculative history tries to speculate on the cause and effect
of an event (Cantal, Cardinal et. al.).
HISTORICAL METHOD AND HISTORIOGRAPHY
The practice of historical writing is called Historiography, the traditional method
in doing historical research that focus on gathering of documents from different
libraries and archives to form a pool of evidence needed in making descriptive or
analytical narrative.
Salient feature of historical writing is the facility to give meaning and impact
value to a group of people about their past.
The process of critically examining and analyzing the records and survivals of
the past is called Historical Method.
Historical analysis is also an important element of historical method. In historical
analysis, historians:
1. Select subject to investigate;
2. Collect probable sources of information;
3. Examine the sources genuineness;
4. Extract credible “particulars” from the sources
HISTORY AS THE SUBJECTIVE PROCESS OF RECREATION
From the incomplete evidence, historians strive to restore the total past of
mankind. They do it from the point of view that human beings live in different times
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and that their experiences maybe somehow comparable, or that their experiences
may have significantly differed contingent on the place and time.
For the historian, history becomes only that part of the human past which can
be meaningfully reconstructed from the available records and from inferences
regarding their setting.
In short, the historian’s aim is verisimilitude (the truth, authenticity, plausibility)
about the past. Unlike the study of the natural science that has objectively
measurable phenomena, the study of history is a subjective process as documents
and relics are scattered and do not together comprise the total object that the
historian is studying.
Some of the natural scientist, such as geologist and paleo-zoologist who study
fossils from the traces of a perished past, greatly resemble historians in this regard, but
they differ at certain points since historians deal with human testimonies as well as
physical traces.
APPLICATION
I. Using the table below, list down the differences of the Factual and
Speculative History.
Factual History Speculative History
II. Write any historical event in the Philippines that you know using the two
theories.
A. FACTUAL HISTORY
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B. SPECULATIVE HISTORY
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