1. Periodization
By Jeff Anderson

2. Periodization (Description)
Historical thinking involves the ability to describe, analyze, and evaluate different ways that historians divide history into discrete and definable periods.
Historians conduct and debate different, sometimes competing models of periodization; the choice of specific turning points or starting and ending dates might accord a higher value to one narrative, region, or group than to another.

3. Periodization (Expectations)
Explain ways historical events and processes can be organized into discrete, different, and definable historical periods.
Evaluate whether a particular event or date could or could not be a turning point between different, definable historical periods, when considered in terms of particular historical evidence.
Analyze different and/or competing models of periodization.

5. Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Period 5
Period 6
Pick 3 SPRITE chart categories to describe life before event using specific evidence
Using same 3 SPRITE chart categories, describe how life after event was similar or different using specific evidence
Event

6. Periodization Also known as the “Turning Point” essay
Combo of CCOT and COMP essay
Describe how things were BEFORE the turning point
Describe how things were AFTER the turning point
MUST take a stand
Show or explain the limits of the impact of the turning point.
It didn’t change everything
Why was this NOT a turning point?

7. Process – The Question You will be asked to do one of two things:
Evaluate a “turning point”
Must discuss developments BOTH before AND after event
Evaluate the characteristics of an era
Can discuss developments that EITHER came before OR after event

8. Evaluation of Event
You must show or explain the limitations of the impact of the turning point “Did EVERYTHING change after this event?” “Do you even consider this a major turning point in World History?”

10. Sample Question
Evaluate to what extent post WWII decolonization was a turning point in World History.

11. Step 1 – Identify Event
Evaluate to what extent post WWII decolonization was a turning point in World History.

12. Step 2 – Pre-Writing
Brainstorm everything you can think of that relates to your topic.
Don’t worry about categorizing anything yet, just get anything you can think of down on paper

13. Step 3 – Choose Categories
Pick 3 SPRITE Chart categories to use to describe life before the event.
You may use 1 or 2 SPRITE Chart categories, but you must pull a total of 3 facts/pieces of evidence out
Paint a picture for what life was like before the “turning point”

14. Step 3 – Choose Categories (Cont’d)
Political
Colonies were governed by viceroys or other European government officials.
Social
Europeans inserted themselves at the top of the social structure based on a number of factors including race.
Economic
Colonies were taken advantage of by their European colonizers for the sole profit of the mother country, with no regard of the impact on the locals.

15. Step 4 - Evidence
Find specific examples/evidence that goes with your category:
Political
British East India Company
Robert Clive
Ruled with autonomy from British government due to a lack of communication technology

16. Step 4 - Evidence
Find specific examples/evidence that goes with your category:
Economic
British Raj
Replace food crops with cash crops (cotton)
Viceroy ruled under direction of the Crown

17. Step 4 - Evidence
Find specific examples/evidence that goes with your category:
Social
British interjected into the top of the social pyramid
Ban sati and allow widows to remarry
Sepoy Rebellion

18. Thesis
Contextualization is not required, but it doesn’t hurt to set up your thesis with a story… Following WWII, most European nations either chose or were forced to grant independence to their colonies. Though decolonization was a huge event for many newly created independent nations, in many ways this event did not change the relationship between the colonizer and colonized. Traditional colonization simply morphed into Neo-Colonialism where European nations chose to exploit the weakened condition of many newly independent nations.

19. Actual Thesis Statement
Based off of social, economic, and political factors, one can conclude that post-WWII decolonization was not a major turning point in world history. Socially, the Europeans interjected themselves at the top of the social pyramid and instituted policies that were racist or culturally insensitive. Economically, European nations simply designed policies that solely benefited their bottom line profits. Politically however, European leaders were no longer directly in charge of governing their colonies.

20. Putting it All Together
Following WWII, most European nations either chose or were forced to grant independence to their colonies. Though decolonization was a huge event for many newly created independent nations, in many ways this event did not change the relationship between the colonizer and colonized. Traditional colonization simply morphed into Neo-Colonialism where European nations chose to exploit the weakened condition of many newly independent nations. Based off of social, economic, and political factors, one can conclude that post-WWII decolonization was not a major turning point in world history. Socially, the Europeans interjected themselves at the top of the social pyramid and instituted policies that were racist or culturally insensitive. Economically, European nations simply designed policies that solely benefited their bottom line profits. Politically however, European leaders were no longer directly in charge of governing their colonies.