Gellnerova periodizace očima historika

The contribution tries to demonstrate possibilities of interelations between history and social sciences and presents a critical analysis of Gellner’s book from the point of view of a historian. It deals above all with his interpretation of the transition from the time of the “sword” and that of the “book”, which means to a historian the transition from the pre-modern towards the modern society. The author argues that historians have above all problems with Gellner’s unconcern with defining time and space of analyzed processes. On the other side, he highly appreciates sophisticated reflections about the internal coordinates of agrarian society and about conditions of “escape” towards modernity. In comparison with other concepts of transition, Gellnerian approach could be located not very far from some basic aspects of historical materialism. Unfortunately, he ignores the older discussions on transition towards capitalism, like the “Brenner-debate” or Immanuel Wallerstein.