(1.1) GE002 Module 1
(1.1) GE002 Module 1
(1.1) GE002 Module 1
Module 1
Dr. Gerico D. Sabado
The Meaning
History, of of
Sources
Instructor
Historical Data, Email Address:
& Historical
Criticisms
gerico.sabado@gmail.com
Contact Number:
09760139139
GE
Readings in 2
Philippine
History
MODULE 1: THE MEANING OF HISTORY, SOURCES OF HISTORICAL DATA, AND HISTORICAL CRITICISMS
OVERVIEW
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
INPUT INFORMATION
1. Meaning of History
2. Sources of Historical Data
3. Historical Criticisms
The word History is referred usually for accounts of phenomena, especially human affairs in chronological
order. There are theories constructed by historians in investigating history: the factual history and the speculative
history. Factual history presents readers the plain and basic information vis-a-vis the events that took place (what), the
time and date with which the events happened (when), the place with which the events took place, and the people that
were involved (who). Speculative history, on the other hand, goes beyond facts because it is concerned about the
reasons for which events happened (why), and the way they happened (how). "It tries to speculate on the cause and
effect of an event'" (Cantal, Cardinal, Espino & Galindo, 2014). To make sense of history, it is necessary to first
understand what it is all about. Many people think that history is merely lists of names, dates, places, and “important”
events. However, History or the study of history is more than just knowing and memorizing facts.
History deals with the study of past events. Individuals who write about history are called historians. They seek
to understand the present by examining what went before. They undertake arduous historical research to come up with
a meaningful and organized rebuilding of the past. But whose past are we talking about? This is the basic question that
the historian needs to answer because this sets the purpose and framework of a historical account. Hence, a salient
feature of historical writing is the facility to give meaning and impact value to a group of people about their past. The
practice of historical writing is called historiography, the traditional method in doing historical research that focus on
gathering of documents from different libraries and archives to form a pool of evidence needed in making a descriptive
or analytical narrative. The modern historical writing does not only include examination of documents but also the use
of research methods from related areas of study such as archaeology and geography.
THE LIMITATION OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE
The incompleteness of records has limited man's knowledge of history. Most human affairs happen without
leaving any evidence or records of any kind, no artifacts, or if there are, no further evidence of the human setting in
which to place surviving artifacts. Although it may have happened, but the past has perished forever with only
occasional traces. The whole history of the past (called history-as-actuality) can be known to a historian only through
the surviving records (history-as-record), and most of history as-record is only a tiny part the whole phenomenon. Even
the archaeological and anthropological discoveries are only small parts discovered from the total past.
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Match the items in column A with the items in column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on the space
provided before each number.
A B
_______1. Incompleteness of records has limited man's a. verisimilitude
knowledge of history b. historia
_______2. These are raw materials out of which history c. interpretative
maybe written. d. historical impartiality
_______3. This historical method historians investigate, e. historiography
collects and examine sources f. artifacts or documents
_______4. Historian's ability to reconstruct knowledge g. limitation of historical knowledge
historical events. h. Aristotle
_______5. Historians aim of searching the truth, authenticity i. historical method
and plausibility. J. historical analysis
_______6. Objects or things that have since historical bias k. historical bias
been forgotten or the experience of generation long dead.
_______7. The practice of historical writing
_______8. Learning by inquiry
_______9. Historical objectivity
_______10. The process of critically examining and analyzing
the records and survivals of the past.
1.LEARNING ACTIVITY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ANSWER: