The first part of this article assesses the importance of periodization in History; followed by an analysis of the different types of periodization as defined by the most popular publications within the field: Molina (1961); Frank and Elizondo (1961); Jamieson, Sewall y Suhrie (1968); Verderese (1980); Eseverri Chaverri (1984); Martínez et al. (1985); Ávila (1986); Donahue (1985-1993); Collière (1993); Velandia (1994, 1995 y 2005); Hernández Conesa (1995); Aramayo (1997); Pérez González (1997); Siles (1999); García y Martínez (2001); Sánchez Puñales (2002); Benavent, Ferrer y Francisco del Rey (2003), Ancheta Niebla (2004). The main objective of this article is to discover both the externalist and internalist approaches underlying an author’s decision to create or use a particular type of periodization. The secondary objective is to introduce or rediscover publications about history of nursing, from unknown authors.