History Through the Lens of Periodization: The Concept of Late Premodernity

Abstract

The article deals with the periodization of history as an independent subject of study. The first part deals with periodization on a general level, focusing on the fact that time is inherently heterogeneous. The second part addresses the concepts of premodernity and modernity from the point of view of the fundamental differences between precapitalist and capitalist societies. The third part argues that the period that spans roughly from 1450 to 1750 – the period which is typically understood as the early modern era – should be conceived as late premodernity.