Discuss the historical background of emergence of Sociology.
Answers
Sociology as a scholarly discipline emerged primarily out of the Enlightenment ... The origin of the survey can be traced back to the Domesday Book ordered by king William I in 1086.
Sociology is relatively a new science.
As a discipline of academic interest, it is of recent origin. Though the roots of
sociological writings go back to the Greek and the Roman philosophy; it emerged as a
new discipline only in the first half of the 19th century, as a response to the crisis caused
by the French and the industrial revolutions. Earlier, History, Economics, Political
Science, and Philosophy attempted a study of various problems related to society. Later,
when man was confronted with complexities of social life, it became necessary to
establish a separate discipline for the study of society. The social, economic, political
and intellectual background of the 18th century Europe facilitated the emergence of
sociology. It emerged in European society corresponding to its socio-historical
background which had its origin in the Enlightenment period. This period embodied the
scientific, technological, intellectual and commercial revolutions in Europe on the one
hand; and the French revolution of 1789 on the other. The Enlightenment period
stretched from 14th to 18th century and had given rise to force of social change which
rocked the feudal monarchy and church in Europe. Similarly, the industrial revolution in
England brought about deep rooted changes in the nature of society and role of
individual in the society