Pre Colonial Philippines explained in 2 minutes

Vietnam War Summarized

26 May 202102:18

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the often-overlooked pre-colonial history of the Philippines, highlighting its advanced culture and systems. Contrary to the common belief of Filipinos living as primitive tribes before Spanish colonization, the video explains that the Filipinos had organized governments led by leaders called 'datus,' a justice system, and a self-sufficient way of life, including agriculture, such as the Banaue Rice Terraces. The Philippines engaged in trade with neighboring countries like China and Japan long before Magellan's arrival in 1521. The video argues that Spanish colonizers labeled Filipino customs as 'barbaric' to justify the spread of Western culture and Christianity.

Takeaways

🕰️ The video discusses Philippine history, particularly the often overlooked pre-colonial period.
👑 In pre-colonial times, Filipinos had a structured government led by tribal chiefs called 'Datu.'
⚖️ Unlike Spanish rulers, a Datu could be legally impeached by the common people.
🛡️ Pre-colonial Filipinos had their own justice system, which was simpler but functional for their society.
🌾 The society was self-sufficient, contrary to the belief that Filipinos were starving during that time.
🏞️ The Banaue Rice Terraces, a notable farming achievement from the pre-colonial period, still exist today.
🌍 Filipinos were already trading with China and Japan long before the arrival of Magellan in 1521.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The pre-colonial period Filipinos were not 'jungle-living savages' but had an advanced culture.
🚢 Magellan did not 'discover' the Philippines, as Filipinos had already established international trade.
✝️ The pre-colonial era ended with Spanish colonization in 1565, leading to the Westernization of Filipino culture and the introduction of Christianity.

Q & A

What is the common focus when discussing Philippine history?
-Philippine history discussions often focus on the Spanish era, American era, or World War II, with less emphasis on the pre-colonial period.
What misconception do people have about the pre-colonial period in the Philippines?
-People often think of the pre-colonial Filipinos as barbaric tribes and cavemen, but in reality, they had a rich culture.
Who were the leaders of the tribes in pre-colonial Philippines?
-The leaders of the tribes were called 'Datu,' who served their people and could be legally impeached by the common people.
Did pre-colonial Filipinos have a justice system?
-Yes, they had a justice system, which, though less complex than modern ones, was functional for their society.
Were pre-colonial Filipinos self-sufficient in terms of food and resources?
-Yes, contrary to popular belief, they were self-sufficient and not starving. They practiced farming and utilized resources efficiently.
What is one notable agricultural achievement from the pre-colonial period?
-The Banaue Rice Terraces, located in the northern part of the Philippines, are a notable agricultural achievement from the pre-colonial period and are still in use today.
Did Ferdinand Magellan truly 'discover' the Philippines?
-No, the Philippines had already been engaging in trade with countries like Japan and China long before Magellan arrived in 1521.
What does the script suggest about the notion of Filipinos as 'savages' during pre-colonial times?
-The script suggests that this is a misconception, as Filipinos had an advanced culture before the Spanish colonization.
What was considered 'barbaric' by the Spanish colonizers?
-Anything that contradicted Spanish culture was deemed 'barbaric,' even though pre-colonial Filipinos had a rich and advanced culture.
When did the pre-colonial period in the Philippines officially end?
-The pre-colonial period ended when the Philippines was 'discovered' in 1521 and colonized in 1565 by the Spaniards, who began introducing Western culture and Christianity.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Pre-Colonial Philippine History

The video begins by emphasizing how discussions of Philippine history often focus on the Spanish, American, and World War II eras, while the pre-colonial period is usually overlooked. It aims to shed light on this often-neglected era and dispel misconceptions about pre-colonial Filipinos being barbaric or primitive. The introduction sets the stage for exploring the government, lifestyle, and culture of the Philippines before Spanish colonization.

🏛️ The Pre-Colonial Government System

The second section discusses the pre-colonial Philippine government, highlighting that Filipinos had an organized and structured form of leadership with a leader known as the 'datu,' who acted as a chief of the tribe. Unlike the Spanish rulers, the datu could be impeached by the people, demonstrating an early form of democratic accountability. Additionally, the pre-colonial Filipinos had a justice system, albeit simpler than modern-day systems, that effectively served their needs.

🌾 Self-Sufficiency and Agriculture in Pre-Colonial Times

This paragraph illustrates the self-sufficient lifestyle of pre-colonial Filipinos, debunking the misconception that they were constantly starving. Filipinos were capable farmers, with the Banaue Rice Terraces being a notable agricultural achievement that still exists today. The section emphasizes that the pre-colonial community was resourceful and had an established means of providing for themselves through agriculture.

🌏 Early Trade Relations with Other Nations

The fourth part reveals that the Philippines engaged in trade with countries such as Japan and China long before Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521. This challenges the belief that Magellan 'discovered' the Philippines, showing that Filipinos were already active in international trade and were far from being isolated or uncivilized before Spanish colonization.

🌿 The Reality of Pre-Colonial Filipino Culture

This paragraph contrasts the misconception of pre-colonial Filipinos as 'jungle-living savages' with the reality that they had an advanced culture. It points out that anything opposing Spanish culture was labeled 'barbaric,' suggesting a biased perspective introduced by colonial rulers. The section highlights that Filipino society was rich and advanced before the arrival of foreign colonizers.

⏳ The End of the Pre-Colonial Era and Westernization

The final section marks the end of the pre-colonial period, which began with Magellan's arrival in 1521 and subsequent Spanish colonization in 1565. It notes how the Spanish introduced Christianity and westernized the Philippines, leading to the gradual replacement of traditional Filipino culture with Western influences. This period marked a significant shift in the country's history and identity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Pre-colonial period

The pre-colonial period in Philippine history refers to the time before the Spanish colonization, when indigenous Filipino societies thrived with their own systems of governance, culture, and trade. In the video, this era is portrayed as an advanced time, challenging the notion that Filipinos were 'barbaric' or 'uncivilized' before colonization.

💡Datu

A Datu was a tribal chief or leader in pre-colonial Philippines. The video emphasizes that the Datu served the people and could even be impeached by them, showcasing the existence of early democratic principles in Filipino governance. This contrasts with the more authoritarian rule introduced by the Spanish.

💡Justice system

The pre-colonial Filipinos had their own justice system, which, while simpler than modern legal systems, was functional for the time. The video highlights this to dispel the misconception that Filipinos lacked structured governance and legal processes before Spanish influence.

💡Self-sufficiency

Pre-colonial Filipinos were largely self-sufficient, producing their own food and resources. The video notes that, contrary to popular belief, Filipinos were not starving but were skilled in farming and managing resources, exemplified by the continued existence of the Banaue Rice Terraces.

💡Banaue Rice Terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces, located in northern Philippines, are a famous example of advanced agricultural techniques from the pre-colonial era. The video references this to show that Filipinos were capable of large-scale farming and were not living in primitive conditions.

💡Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan is often credited with 'discovering' the Philippines in 1521. The video challenges this narrative, asserting that Filipinos had already been engaged in trade with neighboring countries like China and Japan long before Magellan’s arrival.

💡Trade with China and Japan

Pre-colonial Filipinos were engaged in trade with other nations, particularly China and Japan, well before the arrival of the Spaniards. This trade is mentioned in the video to illustrate the advanced economic relationships that existed in the Philippines prior to Western contact.

💡Westernization

Westernization refers to the process through which traditional Filipino culture was replaced or influenced by Western (primarily Spanish) culture after colonization. The video discusses how the Spaniards introduced Christianity and altered the local way of life, replacing many aspects of pre-colonial Filipino culture.

💡Christianity

Christianity was introduced to the Philippines by Spanish colonizers, fundamentally altering the religious and cultural landscape of the country. The video notes that this was a significant part of the Westernization process that changed Filipino traditions and values during and after the Spanish colonization.

💡Barbaric tribes

The term 'barbaric tribes' refers to the common misconception that pre-colonial Filipinos lived in a primitive or uncivilized state. The video counters this notion, emphasizing that Filipinos had a developed culture, governance, and trade systems before the Spanish arrival, challenging the colonial narrative.

Highlights

Pre-colonial Philippines is often overlooked in discussions of history, focusing more on the Spanish and American periods.

Pre-colonial Filipinos were not barbaric or primitive; they had a well-established culture and societal structures.

The Philippines had tribal chiefs called 'Datu' who led the people and could be legally impeached by the commoners.

There was a functioning justice system during the pre-colonial period, though simpler compared to modern systems.

Pre-colonial Filipinos were self-sufficient in terms of food and resources, contradicting the idea of constant starvation.

The Banaue Rice Terraces, a prominent farming structure, existed during the pre-colonial period and is still in use today.

Magellan did not 'discover' the Philippines; the Filipinos had been trading with Japan and China long before his arrival.

The idea that pre-colonial Filipinos lived as jungle savages is inaccurate; they had an advanced culture.

Anything that contradicted Spanish culture was often labeled as barbaric by the colonizers.

Pre-colonial governance allowed more freedom and the legal removal of leaders, which contrasted with the later colonial rulers.

Self-sustaining agriculture and trade were hallmarks of pre-colonial Filipino life.

Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521, but formal colonization began in 1565 under the Spanish rule.

Spanish colonization began the process of Westernization, leading to the introduction of Christianity.

Traditional Filipino culture began to be replaced by Western culture after the Spanish colonization.

The pre-colonial period ended with the formal colonization of the Philippines in 1565.