READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY HANJIN HAZIR DE JOSE | First semester
READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY HANJIN HAZIR DE JOSE | First semester
LESSON ONE
One: The meaning of history
One: The meaning of history
What is History?
History comes from the Greek word "historia", meaning: inquiry, research, or systematic investigation of an event. History equals People plus Past plus Patterns.
Traditional View of History "No Document, No History"
The Positivist School believed that history should rely on written and verified documents. This approach could exclude people or events that did not leave written records.
Three Problems with the Traditional View Remember: Colonial Bias minus Erasure of Local Voices minus Class Bias
Colonial Bias - History in the Philippines was often written by Spanish colonial authorities. This can make history reflect the perspective of those in power.
This can make history reflect the perspective of those in power.
Erasure of Local Voices - Oral traditions, indigenous groups, tribes, and local movements may be ignored.
Class Bias - The rich, literate, and powerful were more likely to leave written records.
Is History a Science? Yes - in its method.
Historians use a scientific method: Data leads to Hypothesis which is then tested and reviewed.
Dynamic When new evidence is discovered, historians may update their interpretations.
New evidence leads to new interpretation.