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Ancient, Medieval and Modern History: Difference
Need of this division?
- History is a lengthy subject to understand because it has occurred long. Hence, it was necessary to divide it into phases to understand that particular time period better.
- Dividing history into 3 phases renders another essential characteristic. This division becomes a better and more convenient way to see the evolution of culture, politics, etc. It gives us an understanding of how one phase led to the onset of other and also gives us a better understanding of similar events that have occurred within a phase, for example, the modern period inculcates the British period in India, which provides us with knowledge of related events that have happened after the British rule in India.
- It is basically not a clear cut division into a time period, but it is more of a flowchart of history, how did the events flow in a sequence to where the human race has reached today.
Ancient History
The ancient history of India revolves around the time roughly before the Mughal invasion of India. So it roughly starts with human civilization on the Indian- subcontinent who lived in tribes like bhil, Santhals, nagas, etc.
These tribes were known to inhabit India before the Dravidian ascent.
This ancient history of India is further classified into paleolithic, mesolithic, neolithic and chalcolithic stages based on tools and evolution of the then existing human race in India.
The Chalcolithic stage in India marks the onset of larger human civilisation, inculcating the great Indus valley civilisation in it. The phase preceding the Chalcolithic age is the Iron Age, which turned the path of India. Evolution of great kings like Purushottam (porus), king Mahapadma- Nanda, and king Bimbisara of Magadha. This period also marked the invasion of Alexander.
The Iron Age then further evolved into the great golden time of the Mauryan Empire and Gupta dynasty, which had great visionary kings. This period had other remarkable kings, which made India a great nation.
Medieval History
The medieval history marks the onset and invasion of Muhammad bin Kasim, which led to the period of Mughals into India gradually; this period saw the rise and massive downfalls of Mughal kings, and other Delhi sultans. This period has it all, whether Mughals’ golden rise and loot, to the highly sorrowful end of later Mughals. During the Mughal periods, Britishers entered India as traders, but turned Indian politics into a new face which led to the onset of modern history.
Modern History
Modern history inculcates ironical events like the British taking complete political control of India, exploitation of Indian workers in mills, farmers in plantations, etc, to great wars like the 1857 independence war, creating a large impact and shaping what India is today.
Roughly these were the important characteristics of these three phases of Indian history.
Conclusion
The historical timeline of India is divided into 3 phases- modern, medieval and ancient for a better understanding. It is divided based on the time period and evolutionary phases of political power in India, starting from prehistoric times to ancient Indian kingdoms like Magadha and Mauryan to the Mughal era and Delhi sultanate led to the advent of British rule in India.
