Why do we need to study history?
To learn about our past
To understand the present
To appreciate our heritage in a broad perspective
To acquire a background for critical thinking
What is history?
- Yesterday of mankind. Record of the past
- The story of all Filipinos
- Historical forces:
Geography
Economy
Politics
Education
Religion
Humanities
Wars
Civilization
History
- History is a scientific discipline that deals with the study of significant events in the past in order to ascertain the truth
- Include the records or accounts usually written in sequential arrangement of past events especially those concerning a particular
nation, people, or field of knowledge as well as activities
- It is a scientific discipline because it uses the tools of science in finding out what really transpired in the past
There are two types of historical epoch:
1. Pre-historic past
Time before the invented writing
Historians rely on physical evidence like skeletal remains, fossils, and artifacts to ascertain what really transpired during this
period
2. Historic past
Period where events are recorded through written documents
This may be divided into the ancient past, the medieval or Middle Ages, the modern period, and the post-modern period:
a. Post-modern History:
Contemporary history – refers to the history of events usually within the lifetime of a person
Recent history – refers to current events.
Historical Data:
These are sourced from artifacts that have been left by the past
These artifacts can either be relics or remains or the testimonies of witnesses to the past.
Affirmation of events in the past. Not the past event itself
Symbol that enables us to recreate it imaginatively
Sources of Data
1. Written
Narrative – newspaper articles, novel or film
Diplomatic – Supreme Court decisions, laws
Social – government reports, municipal accounts
2. Non-written
Material – jewelries, churches, schools, roads
Oral – fares, folk songs
Causative Interpretation of History:
1. Greeks and Roman – Historical events are determined by fate and destiny
2. Christian view of history – There is a concern for the welfare of humankind
3. Voltaire – there is no divine creature. History is the result of chance and fortuity.
4. Hegel – Formulated the materialist conception of history. History represents the development of the spirit's consciousness of its own
freedom and of the consequent realization of freedom. History is the spirit's effort to attain knowledge
5. The Darwinian theory of Evolution – Social institutions, as well as the animal kingdom, the rule of the survival of the fittest
applies and that acquired characteristics of society are passed on the succeeding generation
6. The Marxian Philosophy – Mode of production in economic life primarily determines the general character of the social, political,
and cultural processes of life that shifts as the economic foundation changes.
History and Changes:
History is only possible because of changes of whatever kind
There are two kinds of changes
When the two kinds of change are combined, they form progress
1. Quantitative Changes – Refers to those that can be measured or counted. Growth
2. Qualitative Changes – Refers to the modification of intrinsic value of a thing. Development
