Making Sense of the Past: Historical Interpretation Chapter 3.1

Summary

In this educational discourse, Redentor S. Adas explores the concept of historical interpretation, emphasizing its subjectivity and the importance of understanding its reliability. The lecture delves into the nature of history as a study of the past with a contemporary impact, using the 'Code of Kalan' as a case study to illustrate the pitfalls of accepting historical accounts without critical evaluation. It also touches on the evolution of historical perspectives, the significance of multiperspectivity, and the necessity for students of history to engage with primary sources and interpretations to form a nuanced understanding of the past.

Takeaways

• 📚 Historical interpretation is the act of explaining or framing our understanding of the past, emphasizing its impact on the present.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Jeffrey Barako, an English historian, suggests that the history we read is not strictly factual but a series of accepted judgments by historians.
• 📜 The Code of KalanCha is an example of historical fiction that was once believed to be a genuine historical document but was later debunked.
• 🔍 William Henry Scott's research revealed the Code of KalanCha to be a work of historical fiction, challenging the accepted narrative.
• 👨‍🏫 The importance of historical interpretation lies in its ability to shape our understanding of the past and influence our present.
• 🤔 The reliability of historical interpretation is crucial, as it can vary based on who reads the primary sources, when, and how they are read.
• 📖 Non-historians interpreting primary sources without proper training can lead to misunderstandings and misrepresentations of historical events.
• 📝 The process of historical interpretation involves collecting from primary sources and drawing one's own conclusions to make sense of the past.
• 🌟 Multiperspectivity is a key concept in historical interpretation, acknowledging that there are multiple valid perspectives on historical events.
• 🧩 Historical writing is inherently biased and partial, with historians selecting sources and interpretations to fit their narrative or end goal.

Q & A

What is the definition of historical interpretation according to the script?

Historical interpretation refers to the act of explaining, framing, or otherwise showing one's understanding of something objective from the past.

Why is it important to critically evaluate historical interpretation?

It is important to critically evaluate historical interpretation because it helps us understand the past accurately, identify if the interpretation is reliable, and consider different perspectives on historical events.

What does Jeffrey Barako suggest about the nature of history we read?

Jeffrey Barako suggests that the history we read, although based on facts, is not strictly factual but a series of accepted judgments by historians on how the past should be seen.

What is the significance of the Code of Kalancha in the context of the script?

The Code of Kalancha is significant because it was initially considered a historical marker but was later revealed to be a hoax when William Henry Scott exposed it as a historical fiction written by J. E. Marco in 1913.

How did the Code of Kalancha come to be associated with Bendar Kalancha?

The Code of Kalancha was associated with Bendar Kalancha because he put his name at the end of the code, and it was initially believed that he was the first Filipino lawgiver who established the penal code.

What is multiperspectivity in the context of historical interpretation?

Multiperspectivity is the concept of looking at historical events, personalities, developments, cultures, and societies from different perspectives, acknowledging that each view could be equally valid and partial.

Why might non-historians misinterpret primary sources according to the script?

Non-historians might misinterpret primary sources because they lack the proper training and background to understand them correctly, which can lead to misunderstandings and even more significant problems.

What role do historians play in shaping our understanding of the past?

Historians play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the past by deciding which sources to use, how to interpret them, and presenting their findings to the public, which forms the basis of historical interpretation.

What is the importance of tracking changes in historical interpretations over time?

Tracking changes in historical interpretations over time is important for understanding the evolution of our understanding of the past and for recognizing how different perspectives and new evidence can alter our view of history.

What is the significance of the poem 'Maros' in the context of historical interpretation?

The poem 'Maros' is significant because it illustrates the challenges in attributing authorship and the complexities in verifying historical sources, highlighting the importance of critical evaluation in historical interpretation.

How can students of history ensure they are interpreting historical events accurately?

Students of history can ensure accurate interpretation by critically evaluating different types of interpretations, understanding the context in which they were written, and considering multiple perspectives.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Historical Interpretation and Reliability

The first paragraph introduces the concept of historical interpretation as a means to understand the past. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the subjective nature of history, as it is often a series of accepted judgments by historians rather than purely factual accounts. The discussion includes the definition of history as provided by Jeffrey Barako, an English historian, and the idea that history is not just about the past but also its impact on the present. The paragraph also touches on the Code of KalanCha, a historical marker in Batan Aan, and its controversial status as a historical document, which was later revealed to be a hoax. The narrative highlights the necessity of critically evaluating historical sources and interpretations to discern their reliability.

05:02

🔍 The Role of Primary Sources in Historical Interpretation

The second paragraph delves into the significance of primary sources in shaping historical narratives. It discusses how historians use primary sources to form their interpretations, which are then communicated to the public. The paragraph points out the challenges non-historians face in interpreting primary sources due to a lack of proper training and context, which can lead to misunderstandings or misrepresentations of historical events. The discussion includes the example of a poem attributed to José Rizal, a national hero, whose authorship is questioned due to a lack of concrete evidence. This example illustrates the importance of critical evaluation in historical studies and the potential pitfalls of accepting historical accounts without scrutiny.

10:03

🤔 Multiperspectivity in History and Its Impact on Identity

The third paragraph explores the concept of multiperspectivity in historical studies, which refers to the examination of historical events, personalities, and cultures from various viewpoints. It acknowledges that historical writing is inherently biased and partial, as historians select which sources to use and how to interpret them based on their perspectives. The paragraph also addresses the idea that historical interpretations can change over time, and it is crucial for students of history to be aware of these shifts to form a more accurate understanding of the past. The discussion concludes with a call for a multiperspectival approach to history, which can provide a more nuanced and comprehensive view of historical events and their implications for national identity.

15:05

📚 Conclusion: The Complexity and Importance of Historical Study

The final paragraph wraps up the discussion by reiterating the complexity of historical study and the importance of a multiperspectival approach. It underscores the need for historians to consider various sources and perspectives to avoid misinterpretation and to present a more balanced view of history. The paragraph also serves as a reminder that historical interpretations are not static and that ongoing research and evaluation are essential to refine our understanding of the past. The conclusion encourages students to engage with historical materials critically and to be open to multiple interpretations, acknowledging that history is a construct that is subject to change and reinterpretation.

Keywords

💡Historical Interpretation

Historical interpretation refers to the act of explaining or framing an understanding of past events. In the video, it is emphasized that history is not just a factual recounting but involves interpretation based on fragmentary evidence. The importance of understanding historical interpretation is highlighted as it shapes our view of the past and its impact on the present.

💡Reliability

Reliability, in the context of the video, pertains to the trustworthiness of historical interpretations. It is crucial to assess whether the interpretations of history are reliable, as they form the basis of our understanding and can influence our perspectives on culture and identity. The video discusses how historians' judgments create the foundation of historical interpretation.

💡Jeffrey Barako

Jeffrey Barako is mentioned as an English historian known for his work on medieval history and German history. His perspective on history being a series of accepted judgments rather than strictly factual accounts is used to illustrate the subjective nature of historical interpretation.

💡Code of Kalancha

The Code of Kalancha is cited as an example of a historical artifact that was initially considered genuine but later revealed to be a hoax. This example is used in the video to demonstrate how historical interpretations can be flawed and how the uncovering of new evidence can change our understanding of the past.

💡William Henry Scott

William Henry Scott is introduced as a researcher who debunked the Code of Kalancha as a historical fiction. His work is an example of how historical interpretations can be challenged and revised based on thorough research and evidence.

💡Primary Sources

Primary sources are original documents or artifacts from the time under study. The video script mentions that historians interpret these sources to make sense of historical events. However, it also cautions that non-historians may misinterpret primary sources without proper training, which can lead to misunderstandings.

💡Multiperspectivity

Multiperspectivity is the concept of viewing historical events from different perspectives, acknowledging that there are multiple valid interpretations. The video emphasizes the importance of considering various viewpoints to gain a more comprehensive understanding of history.

💡Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a genre that blends fact and fiction to tell a story set in the past. The video uses the example of the Code of Kalancha, which was initially believed to be a historical document but was later attributed to a work of historical fiction by J.E. Marco.

💡Jose Maria Fabron

Jose Maria Fabron is mentioned in the context of the Code of Kalancha as the supposed author of the code. However, this attribution was part of the historical fiction created by J.E. Marco, illustrating how historical figures can be misrepresented in interpretations.

💡Critical Evaluation

Critical evaluation is the process of assessing the validity and reliability of historical interpretations. The video stresses the importance of critically evaluating historical accounts to ensure that our understanding of the past is accurate and well-founded.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural identity is how individuals or groups define themselves based on their cultural heritage. The video suggests that historical interpretations can shape cultural identity, as they influence how people perceive their past and, consequently, their present.

Highlights

Historical interpretation is the act of explaining or framing our understanding of the past.

History is not just the study of the past but also how it impacts the present through its consequences.

Jeffrey Barako defines history as an attempt to discover significant things about the past based on fragmentary evidence.

Historical interpretation is based on a series of accepted judgments by historians on how the past should be seen.

The Code of KalanCha is a mythical legal code that was once a source of pride for the people of Aklan.

William Henry Scott exposed the Code of KalanCha as a historical fiction written in 1913 by J. E. Marco.

The authenticity of historical sources is crucial for understanding the past accurately.

Non-historian interpretation of primary sources can lead to misunderstandings and problems.

Historical interpretation varies according to who reads the primary source, when, and how it was read.

Students of history must be equipped to recognize different types of interpretation and critically assess them.

Interpretations of historical events change over time, requiring students of history to track these changes.

The poem 'Maros' is an example of how historical attribution can be questioned and re-evaluated.

The poem 'Kalayaan' is believed to have been written by José Rizal, but its authorship is disputed.

The use of certain words and spelling in 'Kalayaan' raises questions about its authenticity.

History is a construct open to interpretation, and it is important to critically evaluate historical interpretations.

Multiperspectivity is a concept that allows for multiple valid but partial views of historical events.

Historians' bias and preconceptions influence the selection of sources and interpretations in historical writing.

It is essential to research and understand the historical background, developments, and cultures from multiple perspectives.

Transcripts

[Music]

good day everyone I'm Redentor s Adas

from BS and Social Work 1C today we are

going to talk about the making sense of

the past historical

interpretation

interpretation this refers the act of

explaining or framing or otherwise

showing your own understanding of

something objective to understand the

importance of historical interpretation

and to identify if the historical

interpretation Rel

relable so what is history history is

the study of the past but a more

contemporary definition is centered on

how it impacts the present through its

consequences je varo defines history as

the attempt to discover on the basis of

fragmentary evidence the significant

things about the past he also notes the

history we read through based on facts

is strictly speaking not factual at all

but a series of accepted judgment such

judgments of his historians on how the

past should be seen make the foundation

of historical interpretation so hisory

is the study of the past just like

[Music]

they jeffre Barako was an English

historian known as a medievalist and

historian of German

born May 1908 died December 26 1984

so Jeffrey Barac the history we read

through based on facts is strictly

speaking not factual at all but a series

of judgment

of the code ofo is a mythical legal code

in the epic history maragas before it

was revealed as a hawk it was a source

of Pride for the people of a clan in

fact a historical marker was installed

in the town of batan aan in 19 56 with

the following text so

text Pride aklan code of kalancha D

bendar kalancha third chief of panai

born in aklan establishes government in

the peninsula of batang aklan Sak

considered the first Filipino lawgiver

he promulgated about 1433 a penal code

known as a code of calano containing

article Don Marcelo orila of Saragosa

Spain obtain the original manuscript

from an old chief of Panay which was

later translated into Spanish by rapael

morido Is Amani it was only in 1986 that

is was proved a hawk when William Henry

Scot then a doctoral candidate at the

University of Santo Thomas defend his

research on prehispanic sources in

Philippine history he attributed the

code to historical fiction written in

1913 by J E Marco titled last atinga

Leen

deas is De Negros Marco attributed the

code of itself to a priest named Jose

Maria fabor prominent Filipino

historians did not descend to Scot's

findings but there are still some would

like to believe that the code is

legitimate and you will notice that the

code of kalancha was kalancha written

because the bendar kalancha put his name

at the end

and the code of 18 article

Commandments and

Punishment light to being cut to pieces

and

thr

dendara you shall not kill neither shall

you steal or shall you hurt the Aged Le

you incure the danger of death and

seeing all night and slavery

slavery Commandments and Punishment

B and

1986

of

or pride of Alan by William Henry Scott

then a doctoral candidate at the

University of SAS defended his research

on prehispanic sources in Philippine

history meanwhile Marco ascribed the

book fictitious rer named Jose Maria

fabon when in fact it was actually his

perjury so William Henry Scott exposed

many broad writers during his time in

Scot findings it states there that Monte

claro never mentioned the chief of Panay

so from the beginning the code of Kalan

kalancha is not part of the Filipino

story also if you didn't

know

Mar and manipulative writer of

hisory pride of a clan I isang hawk or

pek historian utiliz collected from Prim

primary sources of history and then draw

their own reading so that their intended

audience May understand the historical

event event a process that in essence

makes sense of the fast the premise is

that not all primary sources are

accessible to a general audience without

the proper training and background a non

historian interpreting a primary source

may do more harm than a good primary

source may even cause misunderstanding

sometimes even resulting in more problem

for example during maros

even is during his is

goodth proper background legit because

an non historian without proper back

proper background I harmful

so

ever proper backr

author

cation interpretation of the past

therefore vary according to who reads

the primary source when it was read and

how it was read as the student as

students of History we must be well

equipped to recognize different types of

interpretation why this may differ from

each other and how to critically shft

this interpretation through historical

evaluation

interpretations of historical events

change over time thus it is an important

skill for a student of History to track

these changes in is an attempt to

understand the past just like said just

like I said

example

maros is and some people is maros during

his time

perspective and understanding

is a poem perfectly written by oeral

when he was 8 years old and is probably

one of his Ral most prominent works

there is no evidence to support the

claim that this poem with the now

immortalized lines

and was written by and wor the evidence

against authorship of the poem seems all

unsalable there exists no Manus script

of the poem hand written by Ral this

poem was first published 1906 in a book

by herig guildo Cruz Cruz said he

received the poem from Gabriel VTO

Francisco who claimed to have received

in 1884 from Ral close friend sator

saturnino rases Ral never mentioned

writing this poem anywhere in his

writings and more importantly he never

mention of having a close friend by

person raelis

further criticism of the poem reveals

more about the wrongful attribution of

the poem to Ral the poem was written

Tagalog and referred to the word kalayan

but it was document in the result in Ral

letters that he first encountered the

word through a Marcelo H delpillar

translation of R essays El Amore patrio

when he was spelled

kalayan while res res native tongue was

Tagalog and he was educated in Spanish

starting from his mother Theodora Alonso

later on he would Express disappointment

in difficulty in expressing himself in

his n native tongue the poem spelling is

also suspect the use of letter K and W

to replace C and U respectively was

suggested by Ral as an adult if the poem

was indeed written during his time it

should use the original Spanish

orography that was prevalent in in his

time so there's this conspiracy theory

that oeral didn't

write this is less of conspiracy theory

and more of a misconception or unsolved

mystery or me anyway if you went to

school in the Philippines for at least a

couple of years then you you would have

already about the famous lines that he

was used to shame as if we complain

about studying Filipino it

goes or he who loves not his own

language is worse than beast and

stinking fish this is a line from the

poem which is believed to have been

written byal when he was 18 years old

however that's the thing no one knows if

he he ever actually wrote it or not

according to the the Philippine daily

inquire no original manuscript in result

on hand exist

for traditionally believed to be his

first poem moreover analysis point to

the fact that the word kalayaan or

freedom is used in the poem twice was

the result already aware of his country

Colonial condition at a very young age

apart apart from that kalayan was

spelled with a K in result childhood

they spelled word with C rather than

K many things we accept as through about

the past might not be the case anymore

just because this were taught to us foxs

when we were younger doesn't mean that

is set in stone history is after all a

construct and as a construct it is open

for interpretation there might be

conflicting and competing accounts of

the past that need one's attention and

can impact the way we view our country

history and identity it is important

therefore to subject evaluation not only

primary source but also historical

interpretation of the same to ensure the

current interpretation is reliable to

support our acceptance of events of the

past you see the history can be tricky

and harmful so we need to study

properly the

ofid oneid we need to study more about

history

of

and example and

conclusion P

tala so multiperspectivity

with several possibilities of

interpreting the past another important

concept that we must note is

multiperspectivity this can be defined

as a way of looking at historical events

personalities development cultures and

societies from different perspective

this means that there is multitude of

ways by which can we can view the world

and each could be equally valid and at

the same time equally partial as well

historical writing is by definition bias

partial and contains preconceptions the

historian decides on what sources to use

what interpretation to make more

apparent depending on what his end is

historians many Mis misinterpret

evidence attending to those that suggest

that a certain event happen and then

ignore the rest that goes against

evidence s multi

perspectivity in terms of interpretation

do research more because of wrer is

about

history

mpec perspective even the historical

background and developments and cultures

that's multiperspective dity that's all

thank you