Modern era and the Third Rome: Complexities of history periodization

Abstract

The paper explores the history and essence of the modern era concept. It is logical to preserve the original meaning of this term, which developed in Western Europe during the Renaissance and designated the period starting from the 15^th century. The flawed approach that shifts the boundaries of the modern era to a later date in the history of other states and equates this milestone with Westernization deserves attention. Both the civilizational specifics and the global nature of the historical changes that occurred in the 15^th century are being ignored. In Russian philosophical and theological thought, the author stresses their view that the modern era coincides chronologically with the history of the Third Rome — Russia’s Orthodox world empire and the successor to medieval Byzantium.