Key Concepts in History and Historical Sources

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, sources, and notable historians from the lecture on Philippine history and its methodology.

History

The study of past events; requires meaning in Kasaysayan (saysay) and is developed through historiography—the practice of writing history.

Historia

Greek word for inquiry or investigation.

Kasaysayan

Filipino concept of history: salaysay (narrative) plus saysay (meaning); meaning is essential to history.

Salaysay

Narrative or story about events.

Saysay

Meaning or significance attributed to historical events.

Historiography

The method or practice of writing and presenting history.

Primary sources

First-hand or direct evidence from the time period (documents, artifacts, eyewitness accounts, diaries, speeches, maps, photos, etc.).

Secondary sources

Later interpretations of past events, produced after the events, by people not present at the events (books, articles, magazines, internet, news reports).

Written sources

Sources in written form, including literary works, diplomatic or legal documents, and social documents.

Unwritten sources

Sources not written down, such as fossils, artifacts, videos, images, and oral testimonies.

Narrative sources

Sources presented in a narrative form (chronicles, tracts, newspapers) intended to convey a message.

Ego documents

Personal narratives (diaries, memoirs) revealing the author’s actions, perspectives, and age; often biased or selective.

Diaries

Personal day-by-day records reflecting the author’s viewpoint.

Memoirs

Personal narratives recounting the author’s life or actions.

Film or novel

Media created to entertain or convey ideas; can reflect cultural perspectives and may not be strict historical records.

Moral teaching

Sources aimed at conveying religious or ethical lessons rather than neutral facts.

Biography

A narrative of a person’s life highlighting their worth or achievements.

Diplomatic sources

Formal documents recording legal transactions, often sealed; can be issued by public authorities or private parties.

Charter / Urkunde

A legal instrument or charter; evidence of the completion of a legal transaction.

Closing functions

Functions of a diplomatic source that realize its legal effects (e.g., lawgiving, juridical judgments, voluntary agreements).

Lawgiving

Ordinances, declarations of law, statutes issued by authorities.

Juridical

Judgments of courts.

Voluntary agreements

Contracts, wills, and social agreements.

Relics

Remains or objects that offer clues about the past and past cultures; enable comparison of relations between places.

Testimonies

Oral or written reports of events that explain what happened, how, and under what circumstances; historians supplement raw material.

Social documents

Records produced by bureaucracies (governments, churches, schools) containing information on economic, social, political, and judicial life.

Three Cs of evaluating sources

Credibility (trustworthiness), Consistency (logical coherence), and Corroboration (agreement between sources).

Challenges in Philippine history

Difficulties include reading Spanish texts, understanding cultural context, assessing authenticity and reliability, and recognizing biases.

Pantayong Pananaw

A Filipino historiographical approach emphasizing insider perspectives and critique of external narratives, championed by Zeus Atayza Salazar.

Teodoro Agoncillo

Pioneering nationalist historian who highlighted Filipino reformists and revolutionaries (1872 onward).

Renato Constantino

Influential nationalist historian whose writings helped shape opposition to the Marcos dictatorship.

Zeus Atayza Salazar

Leading proponent of Pantayong Pananaw in Philippine historiography.

Reynaldo Ileto

Historian known for works like Pasyon and Revolution, influencing modern Philippine historiography.

Magellan's Cross

The cross encased in tindalo wood at the site of Magellan’s planting in 1521, symbolizing the first Christian presence in the Philippines.

Relics and cultural connections

Material remains (relics) that reveal past cultures and can indicate commercial or intellectual relations between places.