PENGANTAR ILMU SEJARAH -- Pengertian Sejarah, Aspek Sejarah & Sumber Sejarah

Main ideas and concepts

Introduction to historical science

The video explains the meaning of history and its core aspects and sources as foundational material.

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Meaning of history

Etymology (by language/terms)

• English: history from historia = “past,” specifically the past of humankind.
• Arabic: sejarah / sajaratun = “tree and descendants.”
• Greek: historia = “to study.”
• German: gesist = “something that has happened.”

Meaning by language (two categories)

• Narrow sense: history is an incident/event.
• Broad sense: history is a human event rooted in self-realization, associated with freedom and decisions empowered by spiritual power.

Meaning in Indonesian (three meanings)

1. Genealogy/origin (asal-usul).
2. Past events that actually happened.
3. Science and stories (knowledge/stories about history).

Definitions by experts

• R. Muhammad Ali: all changes and events that actually occurred, or the science that investigates past changes.
• Ibn Khaldun: a record of human society/world civilization, focusing on changes in the character of society.
• Muhammad Yamin: science compiled from investigating events that can be proven with real evidence/material.
• Ruslan Abdul Ghani: a science that systematically examines society and humanity’s past development and events, aiming to critically assess research results for guidance in judging the present and future direction.
• William Henry Walls: a record of what is meaningful/important for humans, including human actions and experiences in the past to form meaningful stories.
• Patrick Garner: a science that studies what humans have done.
• Thomas Charlille (spelled “Charli” in subtitles): past events that study biographies of notable people (saviors/founding figures recorded as history’s founders).

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Aspects (scope) of history: past, present, future

Past

• Describes human life and culture in the past.
• Helps formulate cause-and-effect relationships: why an event happened.

Present

• History as a source of understanding for future generations about earlier societies.
• Provides reflection and guidance for life in society, nation, and state.

Future

• History as a starting point for the future.
• Provides learning of values and morals.

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Sources of history (historical sources)

Definition

Historical sources are everything that is the subject of historical study.

According to selected experts

• According to Muhammad Ali: tangible and intangible things useful for historical research from ancient times to the present.
• According to Muhammad Yamin: collections of cultural objects used to prove history.

Types of historical sources (major categories)

1. Oral sources

   • Obtained from statements by historical actors or eyewitnesses.
   • Example: an LVRI (Indonesian Veteran Legion) member who participated in an attack and narrated what was experienced/seen/done.

2. Written sources

   • Obtained from written records/relics of past events, such as:
     • manuscripts, newspapers, documents, inscriptions (tambos/tambos), and annual records from China.

3. Material sources (artifacts/objects)

   • Obtained from physical relics as cultural objects, such as:
     • axes, jewelry, temples, statues, pottery, etc.
   • Important note: the truth/meaning of material sources cannot be confirmed automatically—these require careful research, study, analysis, and interpretation by experts.

Source classification by time/position

• Primary sources

  • Original relics truly from the era.
  • Produced/written by parties involved or eyewitnesses.
  • Examples: inscriptions, chronicles/records of events, charters.

• Secondary sources

  • Copies of original objects.
  • May also include library sources and research conducted by historians.
  • Examples: museum imitations of inscriptions, book translations, historical research reports.

• Tertiary sources

  • History books based on historians’ research reports.
  • Typically the author did not conduct direct research on the specific topic discussed.

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Methodology / instruction-like steps (process implied)

For material sources, their “truth” cannot be confirmed directly, so they must be handled through expert-based steps.

1. Require careful research
2. followed by study
3. then analysis
4. and interpretation by experts

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Speakers / sources featured (as mentioned)

• Mrs. Yulian Oktaviani (video presenter/instructor)

Expert sources cited for definitions of history:

• R. Muhammad Ali
• Ibn Khaldun
• Muhammad Yamin
• Ruslan Abdul Ghani
• William Henry Walls
• Patrick Garner
• Thomas Charlille (subtitles: “Thomas Charli”)

Organizational example mentioned:

• LVRI (Indonesian Veteran Legion)