Historical periodization is an indispensable thing asin science, and in everyday life. There are certain epochs that cover specific time intervals. Their names were invented quite recently, after a person could look at the retrospective, evaluate and divide the past events into stages. Now we will consider all the epochs in order, we will learn why they were so named and what they are characterized by.
Why is there a historical chronology?
This technique was developed by researchersfor good reason. Firstly, each separate period is characterized by special cultural trends. For each era, its own worldview, fashion, the structure of society, the type of business construction and much more. Considering the human age in order, you can also pay attention to the fact that for each of them are specific types of art. This is music, and painting, and literature. Secondly, in the history of mankind there were indeed so-called turning points, when the morals changed drastically, new laws were established. This, of course, entailed a change of predilections, which manifested itself in art. Such changes could be influenced by revolutions, wars, scientific discoveries, the teachings of great philosophers and church leaders. And now, before we consider all the historical epochs in order, we note that our society has experienced this cardinal change quite recently. Scientific and technological progress has completely turned our ideas about communication, sources of information and even about work. And the reason for this is the Internet, without which ten years ago everyone treated, and today it is a part of everyone's life.
Ancient period
The history of primitive society we omit, sincea single ideology at that time, religion or at least a system of writing simply did not exist. Therefore, when we consider the human epochs in order, they begin precisely from the ancient period, because at that time the first states, the first laws and morals, as well as the art that we study until now have appeared. The period began around the end of the 8th century BC. e. and lasted until 456 - the date of the fall of the Roman Empire. At this time there was not only a polytheistic religion with a clear fixation of all deities, but also a writing system - Greek and Latin. Also in this period in Europe, a concept was born, such as slavery.
Middle Ages
Even when the school considers the era oforder, special attention is paid to the study of the Middle Ages. The period began at the end of the 5th century, but the date of its end, at least exemplary, does not exist. Some believe that it ended in the middle of the 15th century, while others believe that the Middle Ages lasted until the 17th century. The epoch is characterized by a tremendous upsurge of Christianity. It was during these years that the great crusades took place. Along with them, the Inquisition was born, which exterminated all the opponents of the church. In the Middle Ages, a form of slavery arose, such as feudalism, which existed in the world many centuries later.
Renaissance
It is customary to distinguish this epoch as a separate one, butmany historians believe that the Renaissance is, so to speak, the secular side of the Middle Ages. The bottom line is that at the end of the 14th century people began to appeal to humanity. Some ancient rules and morals have returned, the Inquisition has gradually surrendered its positions. This manifested itself in art and in the behavior of society. People began to visit theaters, there was such a thing as a secular ball. The Renaissance, like Antiquity, originated in Italy, and today it is confirmed by numerous monuments of architecture and art.
Baroque
When we consider directly the epochsthe history of mankind in order, baroque, although not for long, took an important branch in the development of art. Below, we will discuss it in more detail, but for now, let us note the following. This era was the logical conclusion of the Renaissance. It can be said that the desire for secular entertainment and beauty has grown to an incredible scale. There was an architectural style of the same name, which is characterized by pomposity and pretentiousness. A similar trend has manifested itself in music, and in drawing, and even in people's behavior. The Baroque era lasted from the 16th to the 17th century.
Classicism
In the second half of the 17th century, mankind decidedto depart from such splendid idleness. Society, as well as the art that it created, became canonized and adjusted to clear rules. Classicism began to manifest itself in the design of buildings and interior. The fashion included straight angles, straight lines, austerity and asceticism. The theater and music, which were at the peak of their cultural development, were also subject to new reforms. There were certain styles that sent the authors to this or that channel. Below we consider the era in art in order and in more detail find out what the classicism was.
Romantic period
In the 18th century, people seemed to have acquired a mania of beautyand unearthly fantasies. This period is considered the most mysterious in the history of mankind, ephemeral and original. In society there was a tendency, according to which each person is a separate spiritual and creative person, with his inner world, experiences and joys. As a rule, when historians represent cultural epochs in chronological order, one of the most important places is given to romanticism. In this period, which lasted until the 19th century, there appeared unique masterpieces of music (Chopin, Schubert, etc.), literature (famous French novels) and painting.
Education
In parallel with romanticism in artthe society itself was perfected. When enumerate all the epochs in order, as a rule, it is the Enlightenment that is behind the classicism. Along with the development of science and art at the end of the 17th century, the level of intelligence began to rise at a tremendous rate in society. This was reflected in the rejection of orthodox religious norms. Instead of sacral knowledge came logic and a bright mind. This greatly undermined the authority of the aristocracy and the ruling dynasties, which in many ways referred to the help of the church. The Age of Enlightenment became the birthplace of a new philosophy based on mathematics and physics. There were a number of astronomical discoveries that disproved many religious dogmas. The Age of Enlightenment affected not only Europe, but also Russia, as well as the Far East, and even America. During this period serfdom was abolished in many countries. It is also worth noting that in the 18-19th centuries women began to take part in scientific and government meetings for the first time.
The newest time
We have briefly listed all the historical epochsorder and came to the 20th century. This period is famous for the flowering of various trends in art, numerous coups d'état and regime changes. Therefore, from a historical point of view, this era is called the Newest Time. Since the beginning of the 20th century, you can say that the society has become completely equal. Slavery has been eradicated all over the world, and clear borders of states have been established. Such conditions have become the optimal environment for the development of not only art but also science. We now live in this era, therefore, in order to examine it in detail, it is only necessary to look back.
Summary results
After we presented all the epochs of the worldstories in order, described them, learning how our society was in this or that century, we turn to the study of the beautiful. After all, parallel with the formation of laws and state borders, art was formed, which for many people is the main determining factor for dividing the history of mankind into separate periods. Below, we will represent the epochs in art in order, we will characterize them and we will be able to compare a clear picture of how our society was formed from the very beginning of time. To begin with, we generalize the main "era", and then divide them into separate branches. After all, not always musical periods coincide in time frames with the same periods in literature or, say, in painting.
Art: the era in chronological order
- Ancient period. Since the first rock paintings appeared, ending in the 8th century BC. e.
- Antiquity - from the 8th century BC. e. before the 6th century AD. e.
- The Middle Ages: Romanesque and Gothic. The first is dated 6-10th centuries, and the second - 10-14th centuries.
- The revival is the famous 14th-16th centuries.
- Baroque - 16-18th century.
- Rococo - the 18th century.
- Classicism. Formed against the background of other directions from the 16th to the 19th century.
- Romanticism is the first half of the 19th century.
- Eclecticism is the second half of the 19th century.
- Modernism - the beginning of the 20th century.It is worth noting that modernism is a common name for this creative era. In different countries and in different directions of art, their currents have been formed, which we will discuss below.
What the pen will tell ... At the origins of written speech
Now consider the literary epochs inchronological order: the ancient stage (Antiquity and the East), the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Classicism, Sentimentalism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism and Modernity. For the first time literary creations began to appear in Greece, Rome, as well as in the countries of the East. It was in these powers that the first written language arose. In the ancient world began to appear myths - about Hercules, about Zeus and other gods, about titans and giant birds. Later, the first philosophers, thinkers and writers appeared. It's Homer, Sappho, Aeschylus, Horace. This genre is now called lyric poetry, but often such stories are cited as a historical reliable source. The world of the Ancient East is famous only for its instructive poems. However, let's not forget that in this part of the world in ancient times appeared the most important book of mankind - the Bible.
The Middle Ages and the Renaissance
There is no clear boundary between these periods, andit is not needed. After all, in the years when Europe was only beginning to form as a state system, people were not up to art. The first manifestations of creativity in the Middle Ages were strangled by the church. Therefore, the literary inheritance, which we inherited from those years, is only a knightly epic. Here you can call "The Song of My Side", "The Song of Roland" and "The Song of the Nibelungs." Several centuries later, the Renaissance comes, and the world becomes known for such names as Shakespeare, Dante, Boccaccio, Cervantes. Their stories can be called free, as there is no clear structure, and in the center of events is the person and his feelings. This is the main characteristic of the Renaissance.
Formation of strict canons
When we list the epochs in order, a century afterthe century, everything falls into place, except for Classicism. It seems to exist outside time, space, against the background of other currents. Since the moment when the classic became the basis for the creativity of European authors, a number of regularities in the writing of literary works appeared. They were clearly divided into genres: an ode, a satire, a tragedy, a comedy, an epic, a fable. We can say that since then, the boundaries of creativity have been established, which we use today (note at least the cinema).
Sentimentalism and Romanticism
These two currents seem to complement each other.They are famous for their novels, which describe the experiences of the heroes, their state of mind, tastes and interests. Among the authors of romanticism written in red letters are such names as Balzac, Dickens, Hoffmann, Victor Hugo, Sisters Bronte, Mark Twain, W. Scott and many others. In later years of romanticism, authors such as Oskar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe created. Their stories are already devoid of sentimentality, but are filled with a deep philosophy.
Realism and Modernism, as well as modern literature
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, manycurrents in the literature. In our country they received the name of the Silver Age, in others they were simply called according to the style of a particular work. The most popular was symbolism and decadence. Representatives of these areas were such authors as Verlaine, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Blok. Acmeism was very popular in Russia. His main representative was Anna Akhmatova. Since then, literature has become as realistic as possible. People abandoned inner feelings and illusions. From the beginning of the 20th century up to now, the authors describe any events from the most realistic point of view, considering all the innovations of progress.
art
Now it's time to consider all the epochs in painting in order. We note at once that there are much more of them than in the literature, therefore, we will turn to each of them briefly and concisely.
- Cave painting.
- The art of Ancient Egypt and the Middle East.
- Crete-Mycenaean culture.
- Antique drawings and writing.
- The Middle Ages: icon painting and Gothic illustrations on religious themes.
- Revival. Bright representatives are Michelangelo, da Vinci and others.
- Since the 18th century, Baroque style has appeared in painting. Strongly expressed in the paintings of Caravaggio.
- Classicism, which in the visual arts was formed from the 16th century, was embodied in the works of Poussin and Rubens.
- Romanticism manifested itself in the canvases of Delacour and Goya.
- Impressionism appeared at the end of the 19th century. Van Gogh is considered to be his brightest representative, and alongside him are Gauguin, Lautrec Munch and others.
- In the 20th century, painting was shared byrealistic and surreal. The first flow developed exclusively in Russia. The second conquered the whole world. It is clearly visible in the paintings of S. Daly, P. Picasso and other artists of this time.
