Chapter 1 Foundations of History

Why study history? Marvin Perry in 1988, enumerated the reasons why we need to study history.   To learn about our past. As we study Philippine history, we would learn about the challenges and achievements of our ancestors in different periods of time. To understand the present. The more knowledge you gain of the past, the more insight you will have of the present. To appreciate our heritage in a broad perspective. Knowledge of Philippine history will give you an even greater appreciation of your heritage. To acquire a background for critical thinking. Problems and their solution are central to any survey of history.

The Meaning of History 1. Yesterday of Mankind. History is the yesterday of mankind; It is the memory of Filipino both living and dead; Without knowledge of yesterday, without any memory, there is no guide to tomorrow. 2. Record of the past. One certain thing in history is that conditions change; Filipinos believe that the changes can become progress – movement toward a goal, a better world in which Filipinos can live securely, meaningfully, nobly; Without a guide, without direction, change may be aimless and meaningless. 3. The story of all Filipinos. It is a dramatic account of what had happened to actual men and women as they strove and searched for the good life. It tries to tell not only what happened, why it happened.

4. Historical forces. History has often been shaped by certain forces Geography. The influence of the environment; Economy. The kind of living they had; Politics. How they governed themselves; Education. How science, invention and research played an important part in their lives; Religion. How religion influenced the lives of men; Humanities. How the arts – literature, painting, sculpture, architecture and music reflected the people who created them; Wars. How did men seek peaceful solutions to their conflicts; and Civilization. What led to their rise, fall and decline.

History Defined It is the scientific discipline, which deals with the study of significant events in the past in order to ascertain the truth. This includes records or accounts usually written in a sequential arrangement of past events especially those concerning a particular nation, people, or field of knowledge as well as activities.

Two types of historical epoch: 1. Pre-historic past. Refers to the time before man invented writing. Historians rely on physical evidences like skeletal remains, fossils and artifacts to ascertain what really transpired during this period.   2. Historic past. Refers to the period where events are recorded through written documents. This period is divided into the ancient past, the medieval or middle ages, the modern period, and the post modern period.

How is History Made? All history (except pre-history) is written in one way or the other, meaning committed to a document or documented.

Sources of Historical Data   There are at least five sources of historical data: Written sources. Everything that is written; for example, letters, diaries, contracts, bulletins, newspaper accounts, journals, wills, testaments, books, periodicals, and others.   2. Orally transmitted materials. Everything that is unwritten and passed on through word or mouth; for example, myths, folklore, legends, tula, balagtasan, folksongs, kwentong bayan, pabula, and others.

3. Artistic production. Such as historical paintings, portraits, vases, carvings, engravings, sketches, woven tapestries, and the like. 4. Electronic data. Everything produced through the use of energy like films, documentaries, radio, television, computer data, and others. 5. Relics and remains. Include fossils, artifacts, bones, vases, potteries, language, traditions, buildings, roads, bridges, trails, and others.

Causative Interpretation of History Why is there history? What causes a historical event to happen? These questions have haunted man ever since the advent of civilization. In various times and in different places, man has attempted to answer these philosophical questions. According to the Greeks and the Romans, historical events are determined by fate and destiny; hence, we cannot do something about it.   The Christian View of History. There is a divine concern for the welfare of mankind. All histories will lead to the universality of a true religion.

Voltaire. Does not believe in the existence of a divine creature Voltaire. Does not believe in the existence of a divine creature. Instead, he believes that history is the results of chance and fortuity. Hegel. Formulated the materialistic conception of history. Hegel’s doctrine was that every epoch in history was inspired and dominated by some specific idea.   The Darwinian theory of evolution as applied to history, means that in a social institutions, as well as in animal kingdom, the rule of the survival of the fittest applies and that acquired characteristics of society are passed on to succeeding generations.

The Marxian philosophy applied to history is that the mode of production in economic life primarily determines the general character of the social, political and cultural processes of life, which shifts as the economic foundation changes. Since the World War of 1914-1918, a rhythm philosophy explains history as a series of pulsations, the swing and counter-swing of the pendulum, a series of summer-fall-winter-spring seasons, with the present period representing a very bleak season in civilization and world affairs.

History and Changes History is only possible because of changes of whatever kind. Without any changes, there would be no history because something that is inert, dormant and dead cannot produce any kind of change.