Historiography and Historical Methods

Cards · 50

Etymological root of History

Derived from the ancient Greek word historia.

Meaning of Historia

Knowledge acquired through inquiry and investigation.

Classical definition of Historia

An account of the past of a person or group through written records and historical evidence.

Traditional definition of History

The academic study and documented narrative of the past.

Traditional focus of historians

Documenting the lives and deeds of notable figures such as monarchs, heroes, saints, and nobility.

No document, no history

A traditional positivist mantra stating that events without written records cannot be considered history.

A.J.P. Taylor on history

Argued that history is not simply a catalogue of events arranged in order like a railway timetable.

George Santayana on history

Observed that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Napoleon Bonaparte on history

Famously stated that history is written by the winners.

Teodoro Agoncillo on history

Argued that history is a subjective recreation of the past as perceived by the historian.

Ambeth Ocampo on history

Noted that many historical claims taught in school must eventually be unlearned or corrected.

Confucius on history

Advised studying the past in order to define and guide the future.

Historical sources

Artifacts, documents, and records that provide information about past events.

Primary source

A direct, firsthand account or artifact created during the historical period being studied.

Purpose of primary sources

To supply essential, original evidence and raw data for historical research.

Secondary source

A work that analyzes, interprets, or evaluates original primary sources.

Purpose of secondary sources

To synthesize and offer critical scholarly commentary on historical events and evidence.

Tertiary source

A compilation or broad index that summarizes secondary and primary sources.

Purpose of tertiary sources

To provide broad overviews, factual summaries, and reference navigation.

Libraries as repositories

Institutions housing published historical materials, books, and reference works.

Archives as repositories

Institutions dedicated to preserving non-current, unpublished public and private records.

Museums as repositories

Facilities that curate, conserve, and exhibit material artifacts and cultural objects.

Historical societies

Organizations dedicated to researching and preserving the local or regional history of an area.

Special collections

Institutional library divisions housing rare books, rare manuscripts, and delicate items.

External criticism

The historical analysis aimed at verifying the authenticity and physical origin of a document.

Focus of external criticism

Examines physical properties such as paper, ink, handwriting, and provenance without analyzing meaning.

Goal of external criticism

To detect forgeries, confirm authorship, and establish a text in its original physical form.

Internal criticism

The critical examination of the content, meaning, and credibility of a historical text.

Focus of internal criticism

Assesses the author's accuracy, truthfulness, motives, bias, and context.

Goal of internal criticism

To determine the trustworthiness and evidentiary value of the statements inside a document.

Subjectivity in historical writing

The recognition that every historian views evidence through personal, social, and cultural frameworks.

Primary criticism question: What is history?

Asks whether history represents an objective past reality or an ongoing interpretive discipline.

Primary criticism question: Why study history?

Explores the civic, intellectual, and practical necessity of understanding human experience.

Primary criticism question: History for whom?

Inquires which social groups benefit from or are marginalized by traditional historical narratives.

Dynamic nature of history

History is not static; interpretations evolve as new evidence surfaces and questions shift.

Example of a primary source

Diaries, letters, government decrees, treaties, and physical artifacts from the era.

Example of a secondary source

Scholarly biographies, history textbooks, journal articles, and academic monographs.

Example of a tertiary source

Encyclopedias, almanacs, bibliographies, and general directories.

Positivism in historical studies

A framework arguing that history must rely strictly on verifiable, empirical, written evidence.

Oral history

Recorded memories and spoken testimonies that challenge the traditional document-only requirement.

Historical revisionism

The legitimate practice of updating historical narratives in light of new evidence or critical perspectives.

Historical bias

A deliberate or subconscious inclination in an author that slants the historical narrative.

Provenance in history

The documented lineage, ownership, and origin of a historical artifact or text.

Historiography

The study of historical methodology and the changing interpretations of past historical writings.

Anachronism

The error of placing an event, person, object, or concept in an incorrect historical period.

Historical corroboration

The process of comparing multiple independent sources to verify factual claims.

Contextualization in history

Evaluating a source within the social, political, and cultural setting in which it was produced.

Historical agency

The capacity of individuals or collective groups to act independently and impact historical outcomes.

Great Man Theory

A 19th-century view that historical change is driven predominantly by highly influential individuals.

Subaltern history

A historical approach emphasizing the voices and roles of marginalized and lower-class populations.