Unit 1: Meaning and Relevance of History – Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from historiography, sources, and critical methods in the lecture notes.

History

The study of past events, people, and societies and how histories are written and interpreted.

Historiography

The study of how history is written, including methods, sources, and how interpretations change over time.

Primary source

Documents, objects, or accounts created during the period being studied by someone who witnessed or participated in the events.

Secondary source

Materials produced after the events by someone who did not witness them, offering interpretation or analysis.

External criticism

Context analysis that tests authenticity, authorship, date, provenance, and relevance of a historical source.

Internal criticism

Content analysis that evaluates credibility, intention, knowledge, and biases within a source.

Provenance

Origin and custody history of a source—where it came from and how it reached the historian.

Archive

A place where historical records and primary sources are kept for preservation and study.

Repository of primary sources

Institutions containing primary materials, such as archives, libraries, museums, and digitized collections.

Kasaysayan

The ancient Filipino concept of history; stories significant to the community, often transmitted orally and adaptable to communal life.

Saysay (root of Kasaysayan)

Meaning or significance—the basis for historically remembered stories in Kasaysayan.

Spanish colonial historiography

Colonial-era narratives that framed colonization as progress, often portraying precolonial life as backward and colonization as enlightenment.

Antonio de Morga

Author of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (1609); his work influenced early historical views of the Philippines.

Jose Rizal

Filipino nationalist and ilustrado who challenged colonial rule and shaped nationalist thought through works like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Ilustrado

Educated Filipino middle class who advocated reforms during the Spanish era.

Revolt of the Masses

Agoncillo’s 1956 work on Bonifacio and the Katipunan and the Philippine Revolution.

Malolos: The Crisis of the Republic

Agoncillo’s 1960 work on the Malolos Republic and the revolutionary period.

Teodoro Agoncillo

Nationalist historian who reframed Philippine history after 1872 and emphasized a nationalist narrative.

Renato Constantino

Historian who argued for 'people’s history' and critiqued miseducation in colonial narratives.

The Miseducation of the Filipino

Constantino’s critique of how history education misrepresents the Filipino past.

The Philippines: A Past Revisited

Constantino’s 1975 work offering a critical, nationalist view of Philippine history.

Pantayong Pananaw

A culturally grounded, language-based approach to history that centers Filipino perspectives.

History from below

Approach focusing on ordinary people’s perspectives and grassroots voices in history.

Reynaldo Ileto

Historian who popularized 'history from below' and used folk sources to study revolutions.

Pasyon and Revolution

Ileto’s 1979 work introducing grassroots historical perspectives on 1840–1910 Philippines.

Samuel Tan

Historian highlighting Filipino Muslims’ role and author of A History of the Philippines (1987).

A History of the Philippines (Tan)

Tan’s 1987 book presenting a national history inclusive of diverse communities.

Benevolent assimilation

American justification for colonization—civilizing Filipinos through reform and education.

Public instruction (American era)

Education policy intended to assimilate Filipinos into American culture and governance.

English language shift

Transition from Spanish to English as the language of instruction under American rule.

Original sources (two senses)

Two meanings: (1) a source in its uncopied/original form; (2) the earliest available information; distinct from 'primary source'.

Primary vs. original sources distinction

Primary sources are firsthand accounts from the period; 'original' can refer to uncopied drafts or earliest information.

Paleography

Study of handwriting and dating of manuscripts.

Diplomatics

Study of the forms and conventions of historical documents for dating and authenticity.

Archaeology

Study of human history through material artifacts found at sites.

Epigraphy

Study of inscriptions on durable materials like stone or metal.

Silliography

Study of seals used to authenticate documents.

Codicology

Study of books as physical objects, including bindings, parchment/paper, and cataloging.

Papyrology

Study of ancient writings on papyrus.

Heraldry

Study of coats of arms and heraldic symbols.

Numismatics

Study of coins and monetary systems in history.

Linguistics

Science of language structure, vocabulary, and grammar.

Genealogy

Study of family relationships and lineages.

Prosopography

Use of collective biographical data to construct group portraits.

Frame of reference

The author’s personal background and perspective that influence interpretation.

Perspective/Point of view

The stance of the author toward the subject, shaped by experience, ideology, and context.

Anachronism

Attributing a time or practice to a period where it did not exist.

Textual criticism

Methods used to assess and correct textual errors and determine authenticity.

Authorship

Question of who wrote a document and how that affects its reliability.