CHAPTER 1
Introduction to History: Definition and Relevance of History
Good day our dear students! Welcome to the first topic of the course, "Readings in Philippine
History." This chapter introduces history in a form of narrative and as academic discipline. It presents various
definition of history, which go beyond the usual definition as the study of the past and of course, the relevance
of history as an academic discipline to you, as students and to our country.
The learning objectives for this lesson are the following, to wit:
1. To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline
2. To appreciate the importance of history in your life and to the country
Definition and Relevance of History
Most often, history has always been defined as the study of the past. Students of the general
education are often dismayed and do not appreciate the subject much because of the wrong connotation that
they have, like students are required to memorize names, dates, places, and events from time immemorial.
This low appreciation of history by the students may be due to superficial understanding of the students when
it comes to the relevance of history to their chosen field of specialization and to their life. Although, the popular
definition of history as the study of the past is not wrong, it does not give justice to the complexity of the
subject matter and its importance to human civilization (Candelaria and Alporha, 2018).
Etymologically speaking, the word history is derived from the Greek word 'historia' meaning ’inquiry
or research.’ One of the great philosopher, Aristotle regarded history as a "systematic account of a set of
natural phenomena, whether or not chronological ordering was a factor in the account." The term "history"
has now come to be applied to accounts of events that are narrated in a chronological order, and deal with
the past of mankind. Learning by inquiry about the past of mankind was later developed into a discipline by
the Greek historians Thucydides and Herodotus (who is popularly known as the Father of History). Although
the term 'History' was then adapted to classical Latin where it acquired a new definition. Historia became
known as the account of the past of a person or of a group of people through written documents and historical
evidences. That meaning stuck until the early parts of the twentieth century. History became an important
academic discipline. It became the historian's duty to write about the lives of important individuals like
monarchs, heroes, saints, and nobilities. History was also focused on writing about wars, revolutions, and
other important breakthroughs. It is thus important to ask: What counts as history? Traditional historians lived
with the mantra of "no document, no history." It means that unless a written document can prove a certain
historical event, then it cannot be considered as a historical fact (Candelaria and Alporha, 2018).
Moreover, E. H. Carn defined history as an "unending dialogue between the present and the past."
Jawaharlal Nehru observed that man’s growth from barbarism to civilization is supposed to be the theme of
history." Will Durant called history "a narrative of what civilized men have thought or done in the past time."
The importance of history is in its capacity to help one to draw conclusions from the past events. It
may be said that history is to the human race, what memory is to each man. It sheds the light of the past
upon the present, thus helping one to understand oneself, by making one acquainted with other peoples.
Also, as one studies the rise and fall of empires and civilizations, the lessons of the past help one to avoid
the pitfalls of the present.
Introduction to History: Definition and Relevance of History
Good day our dear students! Welcome to the first topic of the course, "Readings in Philippine
History." This chapter introduces history in a form of narrative and as academic discipline. It presents various
definition of history, which go beyond the usual definition as the study of the past and of course, the relevance
of history as an academic discipline to you, as students and to our country.
The learning objectives for this lesson are the following, to wit:
1. To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline
2. To appreciate the importance of history in your life and to the country
Definition and Relevance of History
Most often, history has always been defined as the study of the past. Students of the general
education are often dismayed and do not appreciate the subject much because of the wrong connotation that
they have, like students are required to memorize names, dates, places, and events from time immemorial.
This low appreciation of history by the students may be due to superficial understanding of the students when
it comes to the relevance of history to their chosen field of specialization and to their life. Although, the popular
definition of history as the study of the past is not wrong, it does not give justice to the complexity of the
subject matter and its importance to human civilization (Candelaria and Alporha, 2018).
Etymologically speaking, the word history is derived from the Greek word 'historia' meaning ’inquiry
or research.’ One of the great philosopher, Aristotle regarded history as a "systematic account of a set of
natural phenomena, whether or not chronological ordering was a factor in the account." The term "history"
has now come to be applied to accounts of events that are narrated in a chronological order, and deal with
the past of mankind. Learning by inquiry about the past of mankind was later developed into a discipline by
the Greek historians Thucydides and Herodotus (who is popularly known as the Father of History). Although
the term 'History' was then adapted to classical Latin where it acquired a new definition. Historia became
known as the account of the past of a person or of a group of people through written documents and historical
evidences. That meaning stuck until the early parts of the twentieth century. History became an important
academic discipline. It became the historian's duty to write about the lives of important individuals like
monarchs, heroes, saints, and nobilities. History was also focused on writing about wars, revolutions, and
other important breakthroughs. It is thus important to ask: What counts as history? Traditional historians lived
with the mantra of "no document, no history." It means that unless a written document can prove a certain
historical event, then it cannot be considered as a historical fact (Candelaria and Alporha, 2018).
Moreover, E. H. Carn defined history as an "unending dialogue between the present and the past."
Jawaharlal Nehru observed that man’s growth from barbarism to civilization is supposed to be the theme of
history." Will Durant called history "a narrative of what civilized men have thought or done in the past time."
The importance of history is in its capacity to help one to draw conclusions from the past events. It
may be said that history is to the human race, what memory is to each man. It sheds the light of the past
upon the present, thus helping one to understand oneself, by making one acquainted with other peoples.
Also, as one studies the rise and fall of empires and civilizations, the lessons of the past help one to avoid
the pitfalls of the present.
