Classifications of History
History gives the memory, discovery, and organization of past events. History is available in the form of records or arts. History explains the habitat, life of people from their origin. The events that occurred before maintaining the records are known as prehistory. The events that occurred after people started to maintain records are known as history. Based on the time period, history is mainly classified into three divisions. They are ancient history, medieval history, and modern history. This article explains the important events that occurred in each classification and the difference between ancient, medieval and modern history.
Important Events of Ancient History
The ancient history is also known as the stone age period or Iron age period. Ancient history started from 6000 BCE and ended in 650 AD.
History of Mesopotamia (6000 BCE - 1100 BCE)
Indus Valley Civilization (3500 BCE - 1300 BCE)
Old Kingdom (3000 BC) - Egypt
Middle Kingdom (2000 BCE - 1300 BCE) - Egypt
Vedic period India (1750 - 500 BCE)
New Kingdom (1300 BCE - 700 BCE) - Egypt
Shang Dynasty (1800 BCE - 1200 BCE) - China
Mediterranean Antiquity
Zhou Dynasty (1200 BCE – 500 BCE) - China
Ancient Greece, (1000 BCE – 146 BCE)
Mahajanapadas ( 600 - 300 BCE) - India
Ancient Rome (753 BCE - 476 CE)
Keeladi Tamil Civilization (600 BCE)
Classical India (230 BCE - 500 CE)
Six Dynasties (220 CE – 581 CE) - China
Three Kingdoms (220 – 280) - China
Late Antiquity ( 300 CE - 476 CE) - Europe, circa
Important Events of Medieval History
The medieval period is also known as the dark age period. Medieval history explains the event that occurred in the 5th century to the 15th century. The majority of the events occurred in Europe.
Classifications of Medieval History
The mediaeval history can be majorly classified into following three parts:
Early Middle Ages (5th century – 11th century) - Europe
High Middle Ages (11th century – 14th century) - Europe
Late Middle Ages (14th century – 15th century) - Europe
Important Empires & Periods of Mediaeval
Byzantine Empire (476–1453) - Southeast Europe
Merovingian dynasty (481–751) - France
Middle kingdoms of India (500–1206)
Nara period (709–795) - Japan
Islamic Golden Age (750–1300) - Middle East,
Carolingian dynasty (751–987) - France
Viking Age ( 793–1066) - Scandinavia, Europe
Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907–960) - China
Capetian dynasty (987–1792, 1814 and 1815–1848) - France
Direct Capetians (987–1328) - France
Direct Valois (1328–1498) - France
Crusades in the Holy Land (1095–1291) - the Mediterranean Sea
Northern Crusades (1147–1410) - Europe
Mongol Empire (1206–1368) - Eurasia
Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) - India
Sengoku period (1478–1605) - Japan
Important Events of Modern History
Based on the occurrence of events, modern history can be further classified into three periods.
Early Modern Period
Late Modern Period
Contemporary Period
Early Modern Period (1500 – 1750)
The early modern period is the first part of modern history. In this period, people started inventing new machines and technology. Also, during this period Christopher Columbus invented voyages and the beginning of British industrialization.
The Renaissance (14th century - 17th century) - Europe
Age of Discovery (15th century - 18th century) - Europe
House of Valois-Orléans (1498–1515) - France,
Valois-Angoulême (1515–1589) - France
The Protestant Reformation (16th century) - Europe
Elizabethan period (1558–1603) - England
Age of Sail (1571–1862)
House of Bourbon (1589–1792) - France
Qing dynasty (1644–1912) - China
The Age of Enlightenment (18th century) - Europe
Late Modern Period (1750 – 1945)
The late modern period approximately covers the events that occurred between the early modern and contemporary. The late modern period begins with European industrialization in 1750 and ends with World war II in 1945.
Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) - England, Western Europe, Great Britain, United Kingdom,
French Revolution ( 1789–1799) - France, Europe
Napoleonic Era (1799–1814 and 1815) - France, Europe,
House of Bourbon and Bourbon Restoration (1814 and 1815–1830) - France
New Imperialism (1815-1914) - Western Europe
House of Orléans and July Monarchy (1830–1848) - France
Victorian era (1837–1901) - the United Kingdom
French Second Republic (1848–1852) - France,
Second French Empire (1852–1870) - France,
Meiji era (1868–1912) - Japan,
Gilded Age (1870–1900) - United States,
French Third Republic (1870–1940) - France
Machine Age (1880-1945) - Europe, United States
Edwardian period (1901–1910) - United Kingdom
World War I (1914–1918) - Most European countries and other countries across the world.
Spanish flu (February 1918-April 1920) - Most of the countries across the world
Interwar period (1918–1939) - Entire Earth
The Roaring Twenties (1920–1929) - United States, Earth
The Great Depression ( 1929–1939) - the United States, Most of the countries around the world
World War II ( 1939–1945) - Most of the countries around the world.
Contemporary Period (1945 – present)
The contemporary period explains the event that occurred approximately 100 years before the current year. So, the contemporary period for 2021 was taken into account after 1945, when the second world war ended.
Cold War (1945–1991) - Between the Soviet Union and the United States, with their allied states,
Space Age (after 1957)
Information Age (1971–present)
Post-communist period (after 1991) / Post-Cold War (Western world after 1991)
War on Terror Era (after September 11, 2001)
COVID-19 pandemic (2020-present)
Difference Between Ancient Medieval And Modern History
The below table shows the difference between ancient medieval and modern history in detail with its period and advantages..etc.
Conclusion
This article explained the complete information about ancient, medieval and modern history. Here, the differences between ancient medieval and modern history are also described in detail. With this, we have got a brief introduction about the major events of all the periods Worldwide. To get detailed information, regional and country video history is preferred.
FAQs on Ancient, Medieval and Modern History
1. What are the three main periods of history, and what do they represent?
History is broadly divided into three major periods to help us understand the past in an organised way. These are:
- Ancient History: This period covers the earliest human civilisations, from the start of recorded history to the end of major classical empires.
- Medieval History: This is the era between the ancient and modern periods, often called the 'middle ages.' It is known for the rise of new kingdoms and major religions.
- Modern History: This period begins after the medieval era and continues to the present day. It is defined by major changes like industrialisation, colonisation, and the rise of modern nations.
2. What are the approximate timelines for Ancient, Medieval, and Modern history in India?
The historical timelines for India are unique. They are generally classified as:
- Ancient Indian History: Starts from the Indus Valley Civilization (around 2500 BCE) and continues up to the 7th century CE, around the end of Harshavardhana's reign.
- Medieval Indian History: Spans from the 8th century to the mid-18th century. This era includes powerful empires like the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals.
- Modern Indian History: Begins from the mid-18th century with the decline of the Mughal Empire and the start of British colonial rule, leading up to India's independence in 1947 and the years that followed.
3. Why do historians divide history into these different periods?
Historians use this division, known as periodisation, to make the study of the past more manageable. Each period is defined by significant and widespread changes in society, culture, economy, and politics. Grouping years with similar characteristics helps us to identify major turning points and understand how human societies evolved over long durations.
4. What is the main difference between life in Ancient and Medieval India?
The primary difference lies in the political and social structures. Ancient India was dominated by large, unified indigenous empires like the Mauryas and Guptas. The Medieval period, on the other hand, saw the rise of many regional kingdoms and the significant influence of new dynasties from Central Asia, such as those who formed the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. This brought new administrative systems, architectural styles, and cultural practices.
5. What key event marks the beginning of the Modern period in Indian history?
The beginning of the Modern period in Indian history is not marked by a single event but a gradual process. However, a major turning point was the decline of the Mughal Empire in the mid-18th century and the simultaneous rise of the British East India Company as a major political power. This shift from Indian to colonial rule fundamentally changed the course of the subcontinent's history.
6. How did the transition from the Medieval to the Modern era affect society in India?
The transition brought huge changes. The establishment of British rule led to a new centralised administrative and legal system. New land revenue policies changed the rural economy, while the introduction of railways and telegraphs connected the country in new ways. It also sparked the rise of the Indian national movement, as people united to fight for independence.
7. What types of evidence do historians use to study Ancient History?
To reconstruct the ancient past, historians rely on various types of evidence. These include:
- Archaeological Sources: Artefacts like tools, pottery, coins, and the ruins of ancient cities like Mohenjo-Daro provide physical proof of past life.
- Literary Sources: These include religious texts like the Vedas, epics like the Ramayana, and writings by scholars on various subjects.
- Inscriptions: Writings carved on stone pillars, rocks, and copper plates, such as the edicts of Emperor Ashoka, give direct information from rulers.
- Accounts of Foreign Travellers: Writings by visitors like Megasthenes (Greek) and Fa-Hien (Chinese) offer outside perspectives on Indian society.
