Understanding History Using Primary and Secondary Sources

A PPT presentation

1. Lesson 1 Understanding History Using Primary and Secondary Sources  

2. History is derived from the Greek noun ἱστορί α (historia) meaning learning or inquiry. Other definition of history it is “the past of a mankind. In German word, history means Geschichte / Geschehen meaning to happen. But according to (Webster’s Vest Pocket Dictionary (Springfield: Merriam Webster, Inc.,Publishers ), p. 149) history is a chronological record of significant events, the study of past events.

3. In Filipino language and perspective: KASAYSAYAN saysay (narrative or salaysay ) saysay (relevance, importance)  

4. History defined by many people like: E.H Carr the inquiry conducted by the historian and the series of past events into which he inquires is the continuous process of interaction between the historian and his facts, an unending dialogue between the present and the past. History means interpretation History is what the historian makes  

5. Collingwood History is the re-enactment in the historian's mind of the thought whose history he is studying. Oakeshott History is the historian's experience.    Parsons History is “a selective system” not only of cognitive, but of causal, orientations to reality.

6. Historical Sources According to (Howell and Prevenier , From Reliable Sources an Introduction to Historical Method ) - these are objects from the past or testimonies concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own depiction of that past. Another according to (Anthony Brundage, Going to Sources ) – historical sources are the tangible remains of past.

7. The Two Classification of Historical Sources Primary Sources Testimony of an eyewitness. Must have been contemporary of the event it narrates. Materials produced by people or groups directly involved in the event or topic being studied. They are either participants or witnesses. These sources range from eyewitness accounts, diaries, letters, legal documents, and official documents (government or private) and even photographs

8. Four Main Categories of Primary Sources   Written sources Images Artifacts Oral testimony

9. Secondary Sources A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event . Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them.

10. Example of secondary sources:   History textbooks Printed materials (serials, periodicals which interprets previous research) Another type of classification of historical sources Written Published materials – books, magazine, journals, travelogue, transcription of speech Manuscript [any handwritten or typed record that has not been printed] – Archival materials, Memoirs, Diary

11.   Non-written Sources Oral history Artifact Ruins Fossils Art works Video recordings Audio recordings

12. Historical Criticism it is a source to be used as evidence in history, basic matters about its form and content must be settled.

13. Types of Historical Criticism 1. External Criticism The problem of authenticity To spot fabricated, forged, faked documents To distinguish a hoax or misrepresentation  

14. Test of Authenticity: Determine the date of the document to see whether they are anachronistic Determine the author (e.g. handwriting, signature, seal) Anachronistic style (e.g. idiom, orthography, punctuation) Anachronistic reference to events (e.g. too early, too late, too remote) Provenance or custody – determines its genuineness Semantics – determining the meaning of a text or word Hermeneutics – determining ambiguities

15.   Internal Criticism The Problem of Credibility Relevant particulars in the document – is it credible? Verisimilar – as close as what really happened from a critical examination of best available sources

16. Tests of Credibility Identification of the author (e.g. to determine his reliability; mental processes, personal attitudes) Determination of the approximate date Ability to tell the truth - nearness to the event, competence of witness, degree of attention Willingness to tell the truth - to determine if the author consciously or unconsciously tells falsehoods Corroboration (i.e. historical facts) - particulars which rest upon the independent testimony of two or more reliable witnesses

17. Three Major Components to Effective Historical Thinking   Sensitivity to Multiple Causation Sensitivity to Context Awareness of the interplay of continuity and change in human affairs

18. THANK YOU