Meaning of universal history (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Universal History:

Universal History is understood as the compilation of facts and situations that have developed around the context of the human being, from the appearance of man to the present day.

The origin of this term derives from the Greek ἱστορία , which means "history", and from the Latin universalis , which refers to "universal".

The main objective of Universal History is to present, in a chronological and organized way, what have been the most important events in the history of man and his development, dividing into periods the most outstanding and significant moments of humanity, which according to the researchers mark a before and after in history.

For example, an extremely important period in the history of man has to do with the appearance of writing.

Once the human being managed to leave records about how things were done, how tools were developed, agriculture and social organizations, knowledge is started to be preserved and spread.

Before writing knowledge was transmitted through oral tradition, there were no written accounts, therefore, everything that happened before the appearance of writing is called Prehistory.

Writing was an event that accelerated the evolution of humanity.

The periods that follow Prehistory group together a series of important events that mark the end of one stage and the beginning of another. The periods are called: Ancient Age or Antiquity, Middle Ages, Modern Age and Contemporary Age.

See also the meaning of History.

Periods of Universal History

The periods in which Universal History is divided are defined by the series of events that were decisive and significant in the development of the human being, such as technology, religion, the political and social order, among others.

Old age

The period that compiles the events that occurred between 3000 BC and the 6th century is called the Ancient Age.

However, it did not occur equally on all continents, therefore the stories corresponding to the Ancient Age generally go back to the events that occurred in Europe, the Middle East, China and India.

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is determined between the 6th and the end of the 15th century. Its beginning is considered to be part of the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

During this period Christianity expanded, the development of important cities and social organizations began, and even universities. It was also the time when printing appeared, scientific development and the Renaissance was promoted.

The Middle Ages are considered to end, according to some historians, with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and, for others, with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America in 1492.

Modern age

The Modern Age is equivalent to the period from the 15th century to the year 1789 with the development of the French Revolution.

It was the time in which an important political, social, cultural and scientific development was experienced, as well as the formation of States and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

This series of events were the basis under which the processes to be followed in the Contemporary Age were continued.

However, from the Anglo-Saxon perspective, for America the end of the Modern Age has to do with the Independence of the United States in 1776 or the differences in independence in the rest of the American continent that occurred between 1800 and 1825.

Contemporary age

The Contemporary Age ranges from the development of the French Revolution to the present day. The French Revolution was a very important event because with it important social and political changes were generated.

It was also the time in which the Industrial Revolution finished developing and produced important changes regarding the labor area.

In the Contemporary Age, the processes and achievements of independence developed in the American continent, the First World War and the Second World War, political, social, cultural and economic changes are included.

Such important developments as the appearance of the Internet, universal suffrage, modern democracies, capitalism, among many others, must also be included.

However, there are those who consider that Universal History should already be divided into another period after the Contemporary Age, but not all specialists agree on this proposal.