In the middle of nineteenth centaury Bitish historians Divided Indian history into three periods: "Hindu", "Muslim" and "British". This division was based on the idea that the religion of the rulers was the only important historically change, and that there were no other significant developments - in the economy, society or culture, such a division also ignored the rich diversity of the subcontinent. Few historian follow this periodisation today. Most look to economic and social factors to characterise the major elements of different moments of the past.