A Brief History of Modes:

Modes existed long before what we now call “major” and “minor.” In early Western music — especially during the Medieval and Renaissance periods — composers didn’t think in terms of keys; they thought in terms of modes. Each mode had its own tonal center and distinct emotional character.

Over time (around the 1600s), modern tonal harmony developed, and two modes became dominant:

The other modes didn’t disappear — they simply became less common in classical harmony. Today, however, they have reemerged and appear frequently in contemporary styles of music.