write an essay on problems of Periodisation in history.
Answers
To the extent that history is continuous and not generalized, all systems of periodization are more or less arbitrary. Yet without named periods, however clumsy or imprecise, past time would be nothing more than scattered events without a framework to help us understand them
Explanation:
Periodization in
history has positive aspects to it as it sheds light on significant events of a particular time in history making it comparable to past and future events of the same nature. It also helps to understand the events in the sequence of
their occurrence and their impact. But its drawback is that it is limited to
the viewpoint of the historian who wrote it.
Different
historians have approached Indian history in different ways as they saw it. James Mill, the Scottish philosopher and economist felt the need to divide Indian history on the basis of religion, into three periods - Hindu, Muslim and British. His viewpoints were very limited and biased. There were also other faiths that were followed. And the notion that the British would take India into progress and enlightenment from the previous dark ages of ignorance, darkness, religious intolerance and such, was prejudiced and incorrect.
Other
historians have classified the Indian history as ancient, medieval and modern. This viewpoint also had lot of wrong projections. The ancient and medieval period were looked upon as dark ages without any scientific development or knowledge. This is not true in reality.
It is true
that historical events need to be seen in the context of dates as they help in correlating events. But events take a very long time to materialize so they cannot be bound by dates alone for reference. Events need to be studied in the
context of other related events to get the right picture and to draw correct conclusion.