Chapters 1 and 2 History

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
MEANING OF HISTORY
 History comes from the Greek word historia meaning inquiry, knowledge acquired by
investigation.
 Study of the past as it is described in written documents.
 History is the study of the beliefs and desires, practices, and institutions of human beings.
 It is an umbrella term that relates to past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection,
organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these events.
 Scholars who write about history are called historians.
 Events occurring before written record are considered prehistory
RELEVANCE OF HISTORY
 An examination of the past can tell us a great deal about how we came to be who we are. It
means looking at the roots of modern institutions, ideas, values and problems.
 Looking at the past teaches to see the world through different eyes and appreciate the diversity
of human perceptions, beliefs, and culture. Different and/or new perspectives will enable us to
analyze critically the present contexts of society and beings.
 Promotes nationalism.
 Encourages sound judgment
 Helps us draw lessons from the past by providing examples to emulate and avoid.
 Establishes commonality in national/cultural understanding.
 Guides future decisions.
THEORIES OF HISTORY
Cyclical Theory
History repeats itself; there is no real “progress.” This theory holds that history is a series of patterns that
recur in different forms around the world. Civilizations rise and fall, often for similar
reasons. Understanding history is about understanding patterns. For example, this is a traditional model
for understanding the dynastic history of Central Asia.
Linear Theory
History is about progress. The world is constantly improving and heading in an ultimate direction. There
are no real repetitions in history, although they may appear to exist every once in a while. This theory
is heavily based on the idea of cause and effect: "this happened, and then that happened; that happened
because this happened first."
Great Man Theory
Individual people and/or small groups of people, through the power of their character or intellect,
determine the course of history. This view of history was popular in the 19thcentury. It is summarized
by Thomas Carlyle’s quote, “The history of the world is but the biography of great men.”
Everyman Theory
The world is shaped by the efforts of ordinary people, not small elite groups or individuals. This theory
holds that social groups and everyday people (e.g. farmers, merchants, religious figures) shape
history. To fully understand history, you must also understand the everyday lives of these groups. One
of the most well-known books that presents this viewpoint is Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the
United States.
Geographic Theory
Geography is destiny. The natural environment is a major determinant of history, determining the
potential and needs of groups of people. This theory is often associated with Jared Diamond’s Guns,
Germs, and Steel, which argues that certain peoples are destined for greater success based on their
geographic location and access to resources.
Marxist Theory
History is the story of struggle between different social classes: powerful groups that control wealth and
resources, and the powerless groups who struggle to survive. In other words, “it’s all about the money”
– economics determines everything. People, leaders and nations act out of economic self-interest. As
Karl Marx stated in his famous work, The Communist Manifesto, “The history of all hitherto existing
society is the history of class struggles.”
SOURCES OF HISTORY
Historical sources come in material, immaterial, written and electronic forms and may be classified as
primary or secondary.
A primary source is an original source of information about a topic, event, person, or object. It was
created or narrated by participants and eyewitnesses during or nearly after the event’s occurrence and
gives direct and firsthand information about the subject being studied.
Examples of Primary Sources:
 eyewitness accounts
 statistical data
 artifacts
 legal documents
 pieces of creative writing (song, poetry, short story)
 audio and video recordings
 speeches
 art objects
 visual materials (photos, paintings, maps, editorial cartoon, graphic arts and sketches)
 oral interviews
 autobiographies
 manuscripts
 memoirs
 research data
 unpublished records (family genealogy, parish, school or business records, diaries and letters)
Repositories of Primary Sources:
 archives  historical societies

 libraries  special collections
 museums  private collections
A secondary source is a material written to interpret, discuss, analyze and comment on a primary
source.
Examples of Secondary Sources:
 newspaper or magazine articles  reports

 journal articles  reviews
 essays  commentaries
 textbooks  biographies
 summaries
Sources:
Theories of History. < http://nshslibrary.newton.k12.ma.us/CassellTheories>.

Torres, Jose Victor. Batis: Sources in Philippines History. C & E Publishing Inc.,2018.
Primary Source. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_source>.
Primary and Secondary Sources. <https://library.ithaca.edu/sp/subjects/primary>.

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Chapters 1 and 2 History

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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Examples of Primary Sources:

Repositories of Primary Sources:

 archives  historical societies

Examples of Secondary Sources:

 newspaper or magazine articles  reports

Theories of History. < http://nshslibrary.newton.k12.ma.us/CassellTheories>.

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