Reviewer on Historical Sources and Criticism

Historical Sources

Materials used for writing history are classified into three categories:

1. Published Materials: Books, magazines, journals, and speech transcripts that have been made
available for public use.

2. Manuscripts: Handwritten or typed records that haven't been printed, such as diaries and
memoirs.

3. Non-Written Sources: Oral histories, artifacts, fossils, artworks, and media recordings like videos
and audios.

Primary Sources

Primary sources are direct evidence from participants or eyewitnesses of the event being studied.
Examples include:

• Written Sources: Diaries, letters, official/legal documents.

• Images: Photographs, artworks.

• Artifacts: Man-made objects related to the event.

• Oral Testimonies: Recorded conversations by participants or witnesses.

Examples of Primary Sources:

• Fossil remains

• Artifacts and ruins

• Royal decrees, laws, and official reports

• Personal accounts, memoirs, newspapers, maps

Repositories of Primary Sources:

1. In NCR (Philippines):

o National Archives of the Philippines

o National Library

o University libraries (e.g., UP, Ateneo, DLSU)

2. Outside NCR:

o Local archives, libraries, and museums

o NHC branch offices

3. International:
 o Library of Congress (USA)

o Archivo General de Indias (Spain)

o National Archives and Records Administration (USA)

Secondary Sources

These are materials that analyze and interpret primary sources, such as history books, periodicals, and
research papers.

Historical Criticism

Historical criticism involves evaluating the authenticity and credibility of historical sources.

1. External Criticism (Authenticity):

o Anachronistic Date: Ensure the document date aligns with historical facts.

o Author: Verify the manuscript, signature, and seals.

o Provenance or Custody: Check the document's history and origins.

2. Internal Criticism (Credibility):

o Author’s Identification: Evaluate the author's reliability and perspective.

o Date Approximation: Confirm the event's date accuracy.

o Willingness to Tell the Truth: Assess if the author might consciously or unconsciously tell
falsehoods.

Artifacts into Mentifacts

• Artifacts: Physical objects created by humans (e.g., tools, buildings).

• Sociofacts: Social practices or events associated with artifacts (e.g., rituals, traditions).

• Mentifacts: Beliefs, values, or ideas associated with artifacts (e.g., comfort associated with air
conditioning).

Together, artifacts, sociofacts, and mentifacts shape culture, including behaviors, beliefs, laws, and
rituals.

Culture

Culture is created and learned through time, space, and interactions among people. It consists of:

• Manners, laws, rituals, customs

• Myths, legends, religious beliefs

• Art, tools, language, food

Historical Method

The historical method involves systematically examining and analyzing what happened in the past using
historical criticism to evaluate sources.

Importance of Historical Method:

1. Finding Solutions for Contemporary Problems: By understanding the past, we can form
solutions to today's issues using relevant information from historical events.

2. Understanding Trends for Present and Future: Historical study helps predict future trends based
on past and present observations.

3. Understanding Cultures: It highlights the significance of interactions within cultures and their
effects over time.

4. Reevaluation of Historical Data: Historical facts are revisited and reanalyzed in relation to new
hypotheses and theories, offering fresh insights.

Content vs. Context

• Content: Refers to the subjects or topics covered in a book, document, or field of study.

• Context: Involves the surrounding details or circumstances that influence the meaning of a
specific passage, event, or idea. It helps in better understanding the content by providing the
broader conditions or background.

The Author’s Perspective

• Background: A brief history of the author’s life, giving insight into their experiences and
influences.

• Point-of-View: Refers to the perspective or "distance" from which the author presents the
narrative (first-person, third-person, etc.).

• Argument (Purpose): The author’s main stand or opinion in the text.

• Attitude: Reflects the author’s mood, tone, or emotional state when addressing the argument,
often influenced by their current situation.

Understanding both the content and context, as well as the author's perspective, is essential for
interpreting historical sources accurately.