GE – PH – Readings in Philippine History

Module 1 – Lesson 1: History: Its Definition and Relevance

1st Semester, AY 2022-2023

Module 1:
Lesson 1 : History: Its Definition and Relevance

Overview

This module presents history as a narrative and a field of study. It traces

history’s etymology and identifies the term beyond its being an inquiry of the
past. It likewise deals with its difference from historiography, some of its
theoretical aspects, its methodology, its relevance, issues, and the historian as
an “arbiter of facts and evidences.”

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lessons, the student will be able to:

• Define history
• Determine its relevance
• Describe its methodology

Let Us Explore

Good day everyone. First, let us start with initial activity:

What Do You Know the Philippine About History?

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Palawan State University - Narra for educational purposes only.
DO NOT REPRODUCE OR COMMUNICATE.

Prepared by Maribeth D. Ybera PSU – Narra| 1/6

 GE – PH – Readings in Philippine History
Module 1 – Lesson 1: History: Its Definition and Relevance
1st Semester, AY 2022-2023

Instruction:

Write at least three (3) words that you think best describe the Philippine
History.

Provide one (1) to two (2) sentences of explanation why you choose the words
and try to establish connections of these three (3) words to the study of history
of Philippine history.

Are you ready? Write the answer on the space below!

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History’s Definition, Focus, & Issues

History – the word is a derivation from the Greek, historia which means
“knowledge acquired through an investigation.” It is as ancient as philosophy
existing for approximately 2,400 years already. Evidences later
proved historia’s inclusion in classical Latin which also meant an evolution in its
definition into an account of a person or group’s past through written documents
or other historical evidences.

Documenting the lives of monarchs, nobilities, heroes, saints, and other

important personalities along with chronicling battles, defeats, as well as
breakdowns or breakthroughs, was rendered a historian’s duty. History thus can
be found thru government records, chronicles, journals, and letters (among
others).

However, limiting historical substantiation through written documentation is a

form of discrimination against the peasants or indigenous groups hence the
inclusion of epics, songs, and artifacts (among others). It even set-off
collaborations with other fields. Ancient civilizations, for instance, that were
initially disregarded due to the lack of documents were already probed with the
aid of the archaeologists’ artifacts. Moreover, by examining language and the
variations that it had undergone, linguists also get to facilitate in the historians’
quest for historical evolutions, earlier group connections, and the current of
This material has been prepared and communicated to you by or on behalf of
Palawan State University - Narra for educational purposes only.
DO NOT REPRODUCE OR COMMUNICATE.

Prepared by Maribeth D. Ybera PSU – Narra| 2/6

 GE – PH – Readings in Philippine History
Module 1 – Lesson 1: History: Its Definition and Relevance
1st Semester, AY 2022-2023

cultural influence just as how the biologists or biochemists [among others] aid
the historians’ investigations of societies through genetic and DNA analysis.

The French school of thought, Annales School of History challenged the

historical canons when it did away with the narratives of the conduct of
states and monarchs which were deemed customary historical subjects.
Lucien Febvre, Marc Bloch, Fernand Braudel, and Jacques Le Goff were
Annales scholars who investigated other topics using a historical approach.
Since they were all keen on social history and extended historical periods,
these scholars examined the history of peasantry, the history of medicine,
and the history of the environment [history from below]. Their advocacy
included making space available in the records of mankind for people who,
in the history of society, were not reflected thereby marrying history with
other fields of study such as geography, archaeology, anthropology, and
linguistics [among others].

History and Historiography

As an academic discipline, history has morphed into a multi-faceted and

dynamic investigation which eventually spawned historiography. Whereas the
former investigates the past, bygone events and their causes; the latter, which
answers questions like: What is history? Why study history? History for whom?
explores history itself.

In the past, history was used to legitimize governments, to establish a sense of

collective identity through people’s collective memory, to make sense of the
present, to circumvent mistakes that resemble those of the past, and to inspire
people to forge ahead and press on with the past’s good example. These are just
some of the objectives which make history relevant.

As a school of thought, positivism which emerged between the 18th and

19th century entails empirical evidence and objectivity in drawing
conclusions before knowledge can be declared true. The demand for
historians to obtain written primary documents prior to the writing of a
historical narrative emanates from this truth hence positivist historians
are depicted as impartial not only in their assertions but they should also
be objective on how the historical research is carried out.
Against the backdrop of nations grappling with the notion of building their
own identity free from the yoke of colonial past, postcolonialism emerged
as a school of thought in the early 20th century. It established two
objectives in writing postcolonial narratives: 1) to tell a nation’s history

This material has been prepared and communicated to you by or on behalf of

Palawan State University - Narra for educational purposes only.
DO NOT REPRODUCE OR COMMUNICATE.

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 GE – PH – Readings in Philippine History
Module 1 – Lesson 1: History: Its Definition and Relevance
1st Semester, AY 2022-2023

that underscores an identity without any hint of colonial influence, and 2)

to censure colonialism along with its methods and effects. This renders
postcolonial history a response or a substitute for colonial history which is
a narrative penned by the colonial power.

History, Historian, & Historical Methodology

History will always bear a fraction of the historian who is far from being a blank
sheet. This historian has his/her own context, ideology, education, and
influences [among others] that will somehow influence the process of historical
research when he gets to decide what methodology to employ, which facts are
deemed relevant and get selected, and how the interpretation is going to be
carried out [among others].

Historical research remains an academic and scientific inquiry. Historians

adhere to techniques and rules in historical methodology in order to use sources
and historical evidences in writing history aptly. Certain rules apply when
written sources have conflicting stories or when properly treating accounts by
eyewitnesses and oral sources as legitimate historical evidences verifiable
through reliable sources and use of meticulous historical methodology.

Let Us Wrap Up

This module introduces history as a discipline and as a narrative. It presents the definition of the
history, which transcends the common definition of history as the study of the past. It also
discussed several issues in history that consequently opens up for the theoretical aspects of the
discipline. Ultimately, this module also tackled the task of the historian as the arbiter of facts and
evidences in making his interpretation and forming historical narrative.

This material has been prepared and communicated to you by or on behalf of

Palawan State University - Narra for educational purposes only.
DO NOT REPRODUCE OR COMMUNICATE.

Prepared by Maribeth D. Ybera PSU – Narra| 4/6

 GE – PH – Readings in Philippine History
Module 1 – Lesson 1: History: Its Definition and Relevance
1st Semester, AY 2022-2023

Let Us Assess

Please write your answer on a separate answer sheet uploaded in the Google Classroom
under “ASSESSMENT #1”. Determine if the following statements are true or false:

1. History is an investigation of the past.

2. Writing historical narratives entails the use of only written historical

sources.

3. History itself is the subject of historiography.

4. If “past is past,” history then has no use for the present.

5. History is characterized by hero versus villain narrative.

References

References
Candelaria, J.L.P. & Alporha, V.C. (2018). Readings in Philippine history (First
Edition). Quezon City: Rex Bookstore, Inc.
Carr, E. (1991). What is history? London, United Kingdom: Penguin.
Lemon, M. (1995). The discipline of history and history of thought . New York,
United States: Routledge.
Tosh, J. (2002). The pursuit of history: Aims, methods, and new directions in the
study of modern history (Revised Third Edition). London, United Kingdon:
Pearson Education Ltd.

This material has been prepared and communicated to you by or on behalf of

Palawan State University - Narra for educational purposes only.
DO NOT REPRODUCE OR COMMUNICATE.

Prepared by Maribeth D. Ybera PSU – Narra| 5/6

 GE – PH – Readings in Philippine History
Module 1 – Lesson 1: History: Its Definition and Relevance
1st Semester, AY 2022-2023

This material has been prepared and communicated to you by or on behalf of

Palawan State University - Narra for educational purposes only.
DO NOT REPRODUCE OR COMMUNICATE.

Prepared by Maribeth D. Ybera PSU – Narra| 6/6