perioodiatsiooni

Perioodiatsioon, or periodization in English, is the analytical process of dividing a continuous sequence of events, developments, or data into discrete, labeled periods. The term originates from the word period and the Estonian suffix -atsiooni. Periodization is used in many fields to structure time, highlight patterns, and facilitate comparison and communication about change over time.

Boundaries are chosen by criteria such as politics, economy, culture, technology, climate, or biological cycles, and may be based on significant events, turning points, or shifts in dominant trends. Periodization can be prescriptive, guiding study or training plans, or descriptive, reflecting how researchers have historically divided time.

In history and archaeology, periodization separates eras such as ancient, medieval, and modern; in geology and paleontology, named periods mark long spans of Earth history; in music, stylistic eras provide context for composers and works; in sports science, training is organized into macrocycles and mesocycles.

Nevertheless, periodization involves normative choices and may obscure continuity, impose teleological narratives, or reflect biases of particular schools of thought. Debates over where to place boundaries remain common, and multiple periodizations may coexist for the same subject.