History is simply defined as the study of the past. Additionally, it is the special attention to the activities that humans experience over a certain time period. Historians are the professional scholars who write about various aspects of history. This is a type of research field that takes a sequence of events and narrates them for examination and to be analyzed.
Prehistory
The term, prehistory, refers to the time period before history began to be recorded. The term came into use from Paul Tournal, an archeologist, who used it to describe his findings from caves located in southern France. Prehistorians typically use the three-age system in a way to define different periods: first was the Stone Age, then came the Bronze Age followed by the Iron Age. Additionally, there were four periods within the Stone Age: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic.
Early Civilizations
Early civilization refers to those that existed in ancient history. During the Mesopotamian period between 3000 and 750 BC, this civilization was located in Babylonia, Sumer and Assyric Highlands. Their occupations included the potter’s wheel, metal working, the sexagesimal system, textiling and dairy farming; their writing was cuneiform and their religion, polytheistic. Other early civilizations included the Egyptians, Chinese, Iranian, Greek, Harappa-Sindu/Saraswathi, Roman, Mayan, Aztecs and Incas.
Classical Period
The Classical Period was directed towards cultures that existed in the Mediterranean world during the ancient times. It is the branch of humanities that is comprised of archeology, art, history, philosophy, literature and languages. The parts of the world that were a part of this period were mainly Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece between 600 BC and 600 AD. The sub-disciplines within this area of study include philology, archaeology, art history, philosophy and civilization and history.
Perseus Digital Library Project: Overview of Classical Greek History.
The Classical Period: This site provides you with information on the Classical period in general that ranged from 500 to 404 BC.
University of California Press: A variety of different different literature from the Classical Period.
Classical Period: This site provides you with a brief description on the Classical period in Greece.
History of Philosophy in the Classical Period: This site provides you with a list of links to more information on philosophy during this era.
Classical Period Sculpture: A look at some of the most exquisite sculptures from the Greek Classical Period.
Music of the Classical Period: This site provides you with in-depth information on the music that was involved in the Classical era.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages existed between the 5th and the 15th centuries. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire is when this period came into play. It preceded the Early Modern Era and is the middle portion of history’s division of three periods: Classic, Medieval and Modern. In other words, this period is also referred to as the Medieval period. During the early portion of this period, some of the trends that were previously set continued; these included an increased invasion of barbarians, deurbanization and depopulation.
Middle Ages Info: Information on a variety of topics in the Middle Ages like knights, religion, weapons, food and more.
The Middle Ages: This comprehensive informational resource provides in-depth information on various aspects of the Middle Ages period.
Middle Ages Medieval: This site provides information on the time period ranging from the Black Death to foods and recipes.
Primary Documents: Links to primary documents from the Medieval and Renaissance Europe.
Middle Ages Resource Page: Extensive list of Middle Ages links,
The Labyrinth: Resources for Medieval Studies sponsored by Georgetown University.
Medieval History: Resources related to Medieval history in Great Britain and Europe.
Technology in the Middle Ages: This site provides you with information on the technology in the Middle Ages in the European culture as well as links to more information on the technology in Chinese and Spanish civilizations during this period.
Medieval Philosophy: This site provides you with an extensive amount of information on the philosophy during the Middle Ages, or Medieval era.
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era is the period of time that existed before Europe made significant influences on the continents of America. This is the time period in America that encompasses the prehistoric and historic time period. Technically, this is the time period before 1492, the time of Christopher Columbus’ voyages. Other terms that are used to describe this period include Prehistoric Americas and Pre-Colonial Americas.
Renaissance
The Renaissance period began in Florence around the 14th century and span to the rest of Europe up until the 17th century. This was a cultural movement that took advantage of learning that was based on classical sources and included politics, religion, art, science and literature. This time period is considered the bridge before the Modern era and after the Middle Ages. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo are the two who were the inspirations behind “Renaissance man.
History-World: Good overview of the beginning and progress during the Renaissance.
Renaissance: This site provides you with a range of options to participate in interactive programs to learn about this era.
The Renaissance Era: This site gives a brief overview of the time period with links on the side to more information, such as religion and spirituality, daily life, key personalities and science and technology.
General Characteristics of the Renaissance: This site discusses the era from political implications to literary ramifications.
Elizabethan England: Information and a great resource page on the Renaissance and Elizabethan World.
Renaissance Literature: Resources on different types of literature during the Renaissance.
16th Century English Literature: Resources and information on the different writers in the 16th century Renaissance.
Music in the Renaissance: Overview of the changes in composing styles, genres, instruments and more during the Renaissance.
Renaissance Instruments: Looks at the different types of instruments used during the Renaissance.
Modern History
The Modern era, or modern history, is the time period that occurred after the Middle Ages. Furthermore, this period can be broken down into the early and late modern periods, which occurred after the period of the French Revolution and when the Industrial Revolution occurred. The historic events that occurred directly before the current are referred to as parts of contemporary history. These events are relevant to the present.
Flow of History: Articles on events and happenings during the Early Modern Era.
Early Modern Resources: This site has a list of useful resources to learn more about the era.
British Museum: Overview of the Modern Era from the British Museum.
America’s Library: Information and articles on different people and events during the contemporary period of the Modern Era.
Women Inventors: Listing of famous women inventors during the Modern Era.
Evolution of Visual Art: Information on how visual art changed during the Modern Era.
Big Era Seven: Explores industrialization and its effects between 1750 and 1914.
American History: Tabs on a variety of modern era topics like colonial America, 19th Century, World Wars and more.
