Title: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY STUDY NOTES!
Summary: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY (RELEVANCE, SOURCES, CRITICISMS, REPOSITORIES)
Key Points:
How does understanding the meaning and relevance of history help us make better decisions in the
present and future?
1. Understanding the meaning and relevance of history helps us make better decisions because it gives us a better
idea of how to proceed with certain issues and scenarios. History reveals patterns and trends of how people have
handled similar events in the past and gives meaning to our current events. Knowing what went wrong and what went
right in the past gives us insight and perspective to make more informed and effective decisions in the present and
future.
What are the key differences between primary and secondary sources, and why is it important to
recognize those distinctions in our analysis?
2. Primary sources are direct, first-hand evidence or records created at the time of an event or during the period of
study. Examples of primary sources include manuscripts, photographs, letters, interviews, speeches, and government
records. These sources provide the most recent, original evidence of an event or period.
Secondary sources are accounts of an event or period created after the fact, typically based on primary sources.
Examples of secondary sources include journal articles, books, and encyclopedias.
These sources provide an interpretation or analysis of an event or period that is often informed by secondary sources
or the author's interpretation of primary sources. It is important to recognize the distinction between primary and
secondary sources when conducting research to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the evidence.
Primary sources provide more direct and accurate evidence since they were created at the time of the event and
typically provide first-hand perspectives.
Secondary sources provide a retrospective account or interpretation of an event that often relies on primary sources
but may also be influenced by the author's interpretation and use of other secondary sources. As a result, it is
important to recognize the difference between primary and secondary sources in order to evaluate the accuracy and
reliability of the evidence.
How does internal and external criticism help us understand and interpret historical evidence in a
more meaningful way?
3. Internal criticism is the process of analyzing historical sources based on their content and origin. It helps scholars to
better understand a document’s purpose, who produced it, why it was created, and what type of evidence it contains.
This type of analysis allows researchers to better interpret historical sources by critically examining them for accuracy
and biases.
Meanwhile, external criticism focuses on the facts and context around a source, as well as related sources, to further
strengthen the interpretation.
These sources of data might include other primary documents, secondary sources, or even cultural and social
contexts. By looking beyond, the document itself, it can help to provide a more comprehensive picture of the period
and topic at hand. Combined, these two approaches can give us a better understanding and interpretation of historical
evidence. They can help researchers to identify inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and contextual influences that could
otherwise be overlooked. Additionally, external criticism can help strengthen an argument by providing more
comprehensive evidence and context, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the topic.
SAINT PAUL SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (formerly Saint Paul School of Business and Law)
Campetic Road, Palo, 6501 Leyte, Philippines • Telephone +63 53 323 7778 • Fax +63 53 323 4402 • [Link]
How can we use historical evidence to make connections to current events and draw meaningful
conclusions about our world today?
4. Historical evidence can be used to make connections to current events by looking for patterns within the evidence.
By studying the causes and consequences of past events and the decisions that people have made in them, we can
gain insights that can help us better understand the causes and consequences of current events. Additionally, we can
draw meaningful conclusions from the evidence by considering the similarities and differences between the two and
applying relevant lessons from the past to the present. This type of analysis can help us develop an informed
perspective on our current world, better appreciate why certain decisions are made, and anticipate their potential long-
term implications.
Notes and Facts:
1. Primary Sources are first-hand accounts of an event or person, such as artifacts, literature, census records, legal
documents, photographs, etc.
2. Internal criticism involves researching the context of primary sources. External criticism is a tool used to analyze
primary sources and examine their validity in relation to other sources.
3. Memory is the main repository for primary sources. History can provide meaningful insights into current events while
internal criticism is an analysis to determine a source's accuracy and reliability.
4. Secondary sources are dependent on primary sources and primary sources are evidence recorded by those with an
outside, impartial perspective.
5. Primary source repositories include private libraries and archives. Historical records are a type of primary source
and libraries are another kind of primary source repository.
Further Reading or Resources:
1. Catbagan, K. (2015). Readings in Philippine History: Books, Journals, and Other Sources. Asian Studies Review,
39(2), 297–313. [Link]
2. Ojeda, M. F. (2017). Readings in Philippine History: Books, Journals, and Other Sources. Manila, Philippines: Anvil
Publishing, Inc.
SAINT PAUL SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (formerly Saint Paul School of Business and Law)
Campetic Road, Palo, 6501 Leyte, Philippines • Telephone +63 53 323 7778 • Fax +63 53 323 4402 • [Link]
"Success does not come from what you do
occasionally, but from what you do consistently.
So make a habit of studying every day."
– G.A.M
SAINT PAUL SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (formerly Saint Paul School of Business and Law)
Campetic Road, Palo, 6501 Leyte, Philippines • Telephone +63 53 323 7778 • Fax +63 53 323 4402 • [Link]