What is the Modern period

Introduction-: History is the study of change and continuity in our past. It is about finding how things were in the past and how much they have changed in the present. We divided history into three periods to characterize these changes. You have already studied about the ancient and the medieval periods. The 18th century is generally taken as being of the modern period in India. In this chapter you will learn about the periodization in history, some major development in the modern period around the world and in India as well as the sources for studying the modern period. 

Periodization in History-: There was a time when history was all about was all about account of battles and big events. It was about the rulers and their policies. Historians wrote about the years when the king became the ruler, when he got married, when he had died and when his successor ascended the throne. Historians today, do not just talk about the rulers and issues regarding how people earned their livelihood, what they produced and ate, how the cities developed, how kingdoms emerged, how new ideas had spread, and how cultures and societies changed. We focus now not on a particular event, but on a set of events that spread over a period of time. 

Type of History-: (Ancient) (Medieval) (Modern) 

History can be divided into broad time periods based on certain distinctive characteristics. This is called periodization. James Mill was a Scottish economist and political Philosopher. He published a three-volume work called the History of British India in 1817. He divided Indian history into three periods---Hindu, Muslim and British. According to Mill, before the British came to India, the country was ruled by Hindu and Muslim autocrats. Religious intolerance, caste taboos and superstitions dominated the social life in India. Mill felt that the British rule could civilize India by introducing British institutions, laws and manners in the country. According to him, British rule could bring enlightenment and help India to progress. Historians Usually divided Indian history into Ancient, Medieval and Modern periods. However, there are some problems observed with this division system. It is a periodization borrowed from the West where the Modern period was associated with the growth of science, democracy, reason, liberty, equality, etc. Medieval was used to describe a society where features of modern society did not exist. In India, under the British rule (modern period), people did not have freedom, equality and liberty. Also, there was no economic growth and progress during this time. Many historians therefore refer to this period as colonial. 

Major Developments around the world-: one of the most significant events that took place during this period was the which began in Europe. The term Industrial Revolution is used for the process of change from an agrarian, handicrafts economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture. There was a significant advancement made in the fields of agriculture, technology, mining, transport and manufacturing. It brought about changes in the social, economic, political and cultural lives of the people. Every aspect of life was influence in one or the other by the Industrial Revolution.