STUDYING HISTORY: PERIODIZATION-A NECESSITY OR CONVENIENCE

Periodization in History means dividing the past into certain span of time and studying the historical events therein. Periodization is so popular in history that this pattern is used not only in school books but is also considered as a basis for specialization in higher studies This paper seeks to question whether periodization in history is inevitable or a matter of convenience.The paper brings out the merits and demerits of the system of periodizing history. It shows that periodization can only lead to confusions. The past cannot be compartmentalized into ancient, medieval and modern or even contemporary because these concepts are inevitably defined in various ways, by various persons in various places at various times. Moreover one cannot confine oneself into one period as every event has a background and a consequence. Periodization inhibits this full view. The only alternative to this confusion and controversy regarding periodization in history is to bring it to an end. One could adopt thematic study of history where a certain theme could be judged in its right perspective by considering the effects on it of the various facets of the passage of time. The ambiguous periodization of history could be terminated and history could be treated as a continuous flow.