FUENTES DE LA HISTORIA - CIENCIAS AUXILIARES DE LA HISTORIA
Understanding Historical Sources
The Nature of History
- History is defined as the science of men in time, emphasizing its unique inability to replicate past events for study.
- Unlike other sciences, history relies on data and evidence from the past to understand human experiences.
Sources of Historical Data
- Historians gather information from various sources that provide evidence of past events, including artifacts, documents, and oral traditions.
- These sources are crucial for reconstructing historical narratives and understanding cultural contexts.
Classification of Historical Sources
Written Sources
- Written sources include documents like chronicles, letters, and books that record historical events through written language. An example is "Royal Commentaries of the Incas" by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega published in 1609.
Material or Archaeological Sources
- These consist of physical objects created by humans that reflect past cultures, such as architecture (e.g., Great Wall of China), ceramics, metallurgy, flora and fauna remains. Examples include Nazca vessels and textiles from Paracas culture.
Oral or Traditional Sources
- This category encompasses knowledge passed down through generations via storytelling, myths, legends (like the story "Journey to Heaven"), dances (e.g., scissors dance), songs, and customs (e.g., Day of the Dead festival).
Anthroposomatic Sources
- Comprising human remains such as bones and mummies (e.g., Juanita or Lady of Ampato), these sources provide insights into the physical characteristics and health conditions of ancient populations.
Audiovisual Sources
- Audiovisual materials include images, recordings, photographs (like those depicting 16th-century Cusco), engravings representing historical scenes, and paintings that convey cultural narratives visually.
Types of Primary vs Secondary Sources
- Primary sources contain original information not previously interpreted; they serve as firsthand accounts or direct evidence from a specific time period.
Chronicles and Historical Sources
Importance of Primary Sources
- The chronicle by Guamán Poma de Ayala is highlighted as a primary source, analyzed by researchers leading to significant publications like Nata Muscle's Los Vencidos.
- Garcilaso de la Vega's Los comentarioes reales de los Incas serves as another key primary source that has inspired various scholarly works, including Luis Valcárcel's perspective on the Indian angle.
- A letter from Miguel Grau to Arturo Prat’s widow during the Battle of Iquique is noted for its emotional depth and later influence on historical literature about Grau.
Analyzing Historical Evidence
- Historical sources are essential for understanding past events; they require careful analysis to extract accurate information.
- The process of analyzing sources involves identifying their type, context (time and space), authorship, purpose, and comparing them with other sources to ensure reliability.
Caution in Source Validation
- Not all evidence can be trusted; some may have been manipulated or falsified. For example, the Piltdown Man hoax misled scholars for decades before being debunked.
- Another case involves an image of Machu Picchu that purportedly reveals a face when rotated but lacks clarity and appears digitally altered.
Interdisciplinary Approach in History
- Modern science promotes interdisciplinary studies rather than isolated fields, enhancing our understanding of social phenomena through collaboration among different sciences.
- Various auxiliary sciences support historical research: geography (earth study), economics (resource distribution), sociology (society study), archaeology (material remains), anthropology (culture study), and more.
Contributions of Auxiliary Sciences
- Key auxiliary sciences include:
- Geography: Studies geographic space.
- Economics: Focuses on resource management.
- Sociology: Examines societal structures.
- Archaeology: Investigates ancient material culture.
- Anthropology: Explores human cultures and behaviors.