From a historical point of view it is necessary to order time chronologically. In this sense, the order that is handled in the scientific community is the following: Prehistory, Ancient Ages , Middle Ages , Modern Ages and Contemporary Ages. Prehistory is the most extensive stage of humanity, since its duration covers two million years (from the origin of the first humans to the appearance of writing ).
The name Late Antiquity serves historians to divide time into two great stages: classical and late antiquity . The latter includes the period from the third to the seventh century AD. In other words, from the decline of Roman civilization to the expansion of the Arabs through Europe and North Africa or until the beginning of the Empire of Charlemagne.
On the other hand, this chronological reference is contrary to the traditional view according to which the Middle Ages began with the Fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476. C.
By dividing Antiquity into two great stages, the subsequent emergence of the Middle Ages can be better explained. Thus, the jump between Antiquity and the Middle Ages acquires more sense if the events that mark late Antiquity are contemplated
Great events that took place during late antiquity
During this period of five centuries, some very relevant events took place:
1) the classical order promoted by Greeks and Romans was gradually weakening,
2) Christianity is consolidated in Europe as a hegemonic religion that little by little is replacing polytheism and paganism and
3) from the Vl century, Islam began to develop as a new monotheistic religion.
These three main axes determined new ideas that affected the whole of society.
What criteria is used to divide historical time into large stages?
The division into stages is a way of ordering and understanding the changes in world history. This order is established based on a general criterion: one stage ends and another begins when a historical episode is so important that it implies a new paradigm for all humanity.
The appearance of writing marked the beginning of the Ancient Age, the Discovery of America represented the beginning of the Modern Age and the Contemporary Age begins in 1789, the year in which the French Revolution took place .