What is periodising?

Periodising means dividing history or events into specific time periods to study and understand changes over time more clearly.

In history, periodisation helps classify events into sections like Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. This makes it easier to track progress, causes, and patterns. For example, historians divide Indian history into ancient (till 700 CE), medieval (700–1750 CE), and modern (after 1750 CE). Periodisation also applies to sports training, where it means splitting a training plan into cycles for better performance.

In both cases, the goal is structure and clarity. Historians often use political, cultural, or economic factors to mark periods. However, some argue periodisation can be Euro-centric or oversimplified. It remains a practical tool for organizing study and teaching.