Introduction to History: Definition,
Issues, Sources, and Methodology
Learning Objectives
1 2 3 4
Understand the meaning Evaluate primary Examine and assess Appreciate the
of history as an academic sources for their critically the value of importance of history in
discipline and to be credibility, authenticity historical evidences and the social and national
familiar with the and provenance. sources. life of the Philippines.
underlying philosophy
and methodology of the
discipline.
Definition of
History is the study It involves analyzing History provides
of past events, records and artifacts insight into the
particularly in human to understand how development of
History
affairs. and why things societies and
happened. cultures over time.
Definition and
Subject Matter
•HISTORY was derived from the Greek
word historia which means “knowledge
acquired through inquiry and
investigation.”
Definition and
Subject Matter
•HISTORIA became known as
the account of the past of the
person or of a group of
people through written
documents and historical
evidences.
•“No document, no history.”
Definition and Subject Matter
With the aid of archaeologists, historians can use artifacts
from a bygone era to study ancient civilizations who were
formerly ignored in history because of lack of documents.
Linguists can also be helpful in tracing historical evolutions
past connections among different groups, and flow of
cultural influence by studying language and the changes
that it has undergone.
Questions and Issues in History
HISTORIOGRAP
HY
History of history.
Why History
What is
study for
history?
history? whom?
Questions and HISTORIOGRAPHY
• How was a certain historical
Issues in content written?
History • Who wrote it?
• What was the context of its
publication?
• What particular historical method
was employed?
• What were the sources used?
Bias in historical Interpretation: Different
records: Historians must historians may interpret
account for biases in the same events
sources. differently.
Issues in
History
Revisionism: As new Representation: Whose
evidence emerges, history is being told and
historical interpretations who is being left out?
can change.
History and They only get to access
the representation of the
the Historian past through historical
sources and evidences.
Historians Their job is not just to
seek historical evidences
and facts but also to
interpret these facts.
History and Comprised of certain
techniques and rules that
the Historian Historical historians follow in order
methodology to properly gather facts
through sources and
historical evidences in
writing history.
• Formulating a research question:
What are you trying to find out?
• Gathering sources: Collecting
primary and secondary sources
relevant to the question.
Historical • Analyzing sources: Examining the
reliability, bias, and context of
sources.
Methodology • Interpretation: Drawing
conclusions based on the analysis
of sources.
• Presentation: Sharing findings
through writing, lectures, or other
media.
Sources of Historical Information
Primary Sources: Original documents,
artifacts, diaries, letters, official records.
Secondary Sources: Works of historians,
analyses, interpretations, textbooks.
Oral History: Stories and accounts passed
down through generations.
Archaeological Evidence: Material remains
such as tools, pottery, ruins.
Historical Sources
External criticism is the practice of verifying the authenticity of
evidence by examining its physical characteristics, consistency
with the historical characteristic of the time when it was
produced, and the materials used for the evidence.
Internal criticism examination of the truthfulness of the
evidence.
Conclusion
History is a complex and dynamic field that helps
us understand our past and present.
Addressing issues such as bias and representation
is crucial for accurate historical interpretation.
Utilizing a variety of sources and methodologies
enriches our understanding of history.
References
• - Candelaria, J. L., & Alphorha, V. (Year). Title
of the Book.
• - Additional sources used for definitions and
general historical methodology.
