This document discusses the meaning and significance of history. It begins by explaining that history is the study of the past, how it relates to humans, and the collection and interpretation of past events. History is viewed both as a discipline and narrative. It then discusses different schools of thought on how history is viewed and written. Finally, it explains the important role history plays in human existence, such as in developing collective identity and inspiring social change.

1. GEC 2

2. UNIT 1
MEANING AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORY

3. INTRODUCTION
● To be able to critically read Philippine history, one
must first have a basic and operational understanding
of what history is and why it exists as a social science.
What is History and what is its significance to human
existence? These are the fundamental questions you
will be guided to answer in this lesson.
● You will also be introduced to some conceptual
definitions of history, how it is both a discipline and a
narrative, some schools of thought that influence how
it is viewed and written, and the role it plays in human

4. LET’S DISCOVER!
● “History" came from the Greek historia
meaning "knowledge acquired through
inquiry or investigation."

5. LET’S DISCOVER!
• The study of the past, particularly how it relates to
humans. It is an umbrella term that relates to past events
as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization,
presentation and interpretation of information about
these events.
• A systematic account of the origin and development of
humankind; a record of the unique events and movements in
its life
• Shares with literature, art, history of art, and other
laboratories of the spirit and the mind, a probing
preoccupation with exploring the many hopes, wonders, fears,
and darker contradictions of the human condition.

6. LET’S DISCOVER!
• The interpretative and imaginative study of
surviving records of the past, either written or
unwritten, in order to determine the meaning and
scope of human existence.
• The study of the beliefs and desires, practices and
institutions of human beings.
• Recorded struggle of people for ever increasing
freedom and for newer and higher realizations of
the human persons.

7. LET’S DISCOVER!
• Not just a chronology of events nor story of
heroes and great men.
• Consists of the people’s effort to attain a better
life. The people possess the capacity to make
history.

8. History as a discipline
• History is concerned with the past--
what happened then and what caused
these events. But it's not enough to read
the Who, What, When, Where, Why,
and Wow (basic facts) of a particular
event described in a historical record.

9. Historiography
• is the study of history itself by analyzing and
understanding who wrote the record; what
methods, sources, and evidences were used
to write the record; and, what was the
context of the creation of the record.

10. POSITIVISM
• requires empirical and observable evidence
before one can claim that a particular
knowledge is true.
• "No document, no history."

11. History as a narrative.
• History is written and taught with a
particular intention for a particular group
or audience.

12. The role of history
• History has played significant roles in the
development and survival of the human
civilization.
• History can also solidify a collective
identity among peoples through collective
memory or inspire people to band together
under one purpose.

13. LESSON 2
Primary
vs.
Secondary Sources

14. Primary sources
Produced at the same time as
the event, period, or subject
being studied. These include
official documents and
transcripts, newspaper
clippings, photographs,
eyewitness accounts, artifacts,
memorabilia, letters, census,

15. SECONDARY sources
Produced by an author who
used primary sources to
produce the material. These
sources are closely related to
primary sources and often
interpret them.

16. LESSON 3
INTERNAL
VS.
EXTERNAL CRITICISM

17. External criticism
the practice of verifying the authenticity of
evidence by examining its physical
characteristics; consistency with the
historical characteristic of the time it was
produced; and the materials used for the
evidence.

18. Internal criticism
the examination of the truthfulness and
factuality of the evidence by looking at the
content of the source and examining the
circumstance of its production. It evaluates the
author of the source, its context, the agenda
behind its creation, the knowledge which
informed it, and its intended purpose.

19. THANK YOU!