The 5 ages of history: characteristics and curiosities

History is full of events, discoveries, conflicts, advances and authentic evolution. Human beings have been transforming their environment based on changing circumstances, which has led to variations, improvements and progress that differentiate some periods from others. Therefore, let’s find out what they areThe 5 ages of history: most notable characteristics and curiosities of each one.

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the beginning of the studies of history is confirmed. Some specialists try delimit the eras that define each historical period. However, divergences and contradictions arise, but currently they have come to fruition in these 5 ages of history.

1. Prehistory

This era collects all the events that occurred before the invention of writing, which takes place approximately 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia.

5 million years ago the formation of anthropoid beings occurred which, apparently, still had a great similarity to apes and it is believed that they were not bipedal. This is where the Ardipithecus Radimus is found (4.4 million years old), which developed in the southeastern area of ​​Africa.

From there, the variants of Australopithecus, Homo Habilis, Homo Ergaster and Erectus emerge, so that we later reach Homos Antecessor (800,000 years ago) within the so-called Lower Paleolithic.

In the Middle Paleolithic the figure of Homo Neanderthalensis appears, the first being to perform funerary rites and the first cave paintings. Its extinction took place 40,000 years ago, due to the appearance of Homo Sapiens, who developed different artistic skills during the Upper Paleolithic (paintings, tools, harpoons, canes, sculptures, etc.) to take us towards the beginning of the Neolithic that will take place. place, approximately, around the year 10,000 BC, which will begin sedentary lifestyle, the increase in population and the development of agriculture and livestock.

As pointed out Charles Darwin in his work The origin of the species, animals and the human being himself, develop a body conditioned to the needs according to evolution. An idea that opposed the most literal Christian doctrine in its interpretation of Scripture and that considered that the world, and man as part of it, had been created in its current form by God.

2. Ancient Age

Starting in the 4th millennium, and with the invention of writing, the evolutionary process of the population and the development of different civilizations took place. These are going to be the ones that start more specific cultural processes that demonstrate greater personality; However, some will draw from others and the influences will be constant.

Sumeria: takes place in the Middle East, in what is known as ancient Mesopotamia, in fertile regions of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They have a hierarchical society and have their own language.Egypt: stands out fundamentally for the great cultural and artistic development, consolidating itself in the regions near the Nile River and defining a large-scale construction panorama, such as the Pyramids or the famous Sphinx.ancient china: settled in the eastern region of current China, in the Yellow River basin, they developed their language and their own artistic style, in addition to expanding to other areas of South Asia.Persia: covered a vast territory, from the eastern Mediterranean to modern-day Pakistan. An imperial art is developed in which they will demonstrate their great skills in politics and trade with other civilizations.Greece: the cradle of democracy that will have its great political and urban development center in the Polis (8th century BC), consolidating the Acropolis as a religious center, the temples as an entity of worship for the population and the rise of philosophy with figures such as Plato. According to Miguel Ángel Elvira, it is the moment when a precise technique for art awakens.Rome: all the influences of these other cultures emerge and consolidate an empire that reached the current territory of Great Britain. They will demonstrate unique qualities in art and engineering to make cities great centers of power.

3. Middle Ages

Within the 5 ages of history, this stage has its beginning in the year 476 after the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire. Barbarian peoples begin to dominate European lands. Some civilizations such as the Ostrogoths, the Carolingian Empire, the Vandals and Alans, among others, will take on presence and prominence.

Once the 13th century arrived, the cities boomed and the beginning of a new social class linked to commerce: the bourgeoisie. In the same way, feudal society is on the rise, consolidating the pyramid that clearly demonstrates the class society, according to Indro Montanelli.

On an artistic level, it should be noted that Romanesque and Gothic became the first international styles that are gaining development in different European countries (France, Spain, Germany, Italy and England, among others).

4. Modern Age

Once the Byzantine Empire falls in 1453, the Ottomans take Constantinople and there is a turn in the European political and cultural conception, according to Ernst Hinrichs. It must be taken into account that the so-called Modern State is consolidated, a new political system that is confirmed, for example, with the Catholic Monarchs in the Iberian Peninsula.

In the 16th century, absolute monarchies were consolidated, dominating in Europe the Emperor Charles V. This political concept will develop in coming centuries. New scientific progress is also achieved through figures such as Galileo Galilei in the 17th century, among others.

At the same time, it should be noted that on an artistic level, the Renaissance is the most fruitful period where the return to the classical conception of antiquity. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael are artists who gain renown for being considered intellectuals and not artisans.

5. Contemporary Age

One of the most turbulent times and It represents a great political and territorial transformation throughout the worldbegins in the second half of the 18th century and extends until the 20th century, the culminating moment of these 5 ages of history.

It will be in the 19th century when the industrial revolution occurs, which represents a economic and social growth in many countries, the introduction of the railway and economic transformations. However, many of the progress achieved will be deteriorated due to war conflicts, such as the two world wars with civil wars such as the Spanish one.

In short, we have been able to verify the different characteristics of these 5 ages of history, which shows that, according to the needs of each moment, Human beings can create new lifestyles.

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