Chapter 1: Understanding History Using Primary and Secondary Sources

Vocabulary flashcards covering the meaning of history, historical methodology, source evaluation, and historical criticism based on the lecture notes.

History (Traditional Understanding)

The study of the past, characterized as a chronological record of significant events often including an explanation of their causes.

Historia

The Greek word meaning "Knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation," which serves as the origin of the modern understanding of history.

Kasaysayan (Zeus Salazar)

Defined as "Ang kasaysayan ay SALAYSAY na may SAYSAY sa SINASALAYSAYANG SALINGLAHI," highlighting history as a meaningful narrative told for a specific generation.

Pantayong Pananaw

A historical framework introduced by Zeus Salazar (1974) emphasizing internal communication within a culture involving the message (midyum), sender (tagapagpadala), and receiver (tatanggap).

Pre-History

The period where no written records exist or when writings were not preserved, analyzed by archaeologists and anthropologists using fossils and artifacts.

History (Division of the Past)

The period when humans began recording events using a system of writing, analyzed by historians using wood carvings, engraved metals, papyrus, and papers.

Role of Historians

To select relevant sources, organize the constructed past, and seek meaning to help people see the continuing relevance of memories (historical understanding).

Historiography

The "writing of history" based on critical examination of sources, selection of authentic details, and synthesis of those details into a narrative.

Historical Methodology

The systematic process of historical research: choosing a topic, gathering data, categorizing sources as primary or secondary, applying historical criticisms, and writing the narrative.

Historical Timeframe of the Philippines

The chronological sequence from 9000 BCE or 7000 BCE to the 21st century, spanning the Pre-historic era, Spanish era, American era, Japanese era, and Contemporary era.

Primary Sources

Contemporary accounts produced at the same time as the event being studied, providing firsthand testimony or eyewitness accounts (e.g., diaries, letters, interviews, photographs).

Secondary Sources

Scholarly works written a few years after the event by authors who examined and interpreted primary sources as evidence (e.g., books, theses, dissertations, journals).

Garraghan's 6 Points of Inquiries (1950)

A primary source evaluation method checking Date (when), Localization (where), Authorship (who), Analysis (pre-existing materials), Integrity (original form), and Credibility (evidential value).

Historical Reliability Principle

The standard stating that a primary source is more reliable the closer its creation date is to the event, whereas a secondary source is more reliable the more recent it is.

External Criticism

The verification of a source's authenticity by examining physical characteristics, materials used, provenance, and consistency with historical characteristics of the era.

Internal Criticism

The examination of the truthfulness, factuality, and credibility of evidence by analyzing the author's background, context, literal meaning, connotations, and agenda.

Howell and Prevenier's 7 Factors (2001)

Internal criticism criteria: genealogy, genesis, originality, interpretation, authorial authority, competence of the observer, and trustworthiness of the observer.

Roman Roque

An individual noted in Philippine historiography as the "Forger of Philippine History."

Jose Marco

An individual recognized as the "Greatest Con Man of Philippine History" for producing fabricated historical documents.

William Henry Scott's Findings on the Pavon Manuscript

Evidence disproving Fr. Jose Ma. Pavon's text by showing Pavon was not in the Philippines in 1838–1839, Spain had no king between 1833–1974, and the word "microbes" was not used until 1878.