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Perspectives on World History

Perspectives on World History. What is the Appropriate Scope of World History?. “Big History?” Considers broadest patterns of life, universe Beginning: “Big Bang ”, 13 billion years ago End: “Big Crunch ”?

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Perspectives on World History

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  1. Perspectives on World History

  2. What is the Appropriate Scope of World History? • “Big History?” • Considers broadest patterns of life, universe • Beginning: “Big Bang”, 13 billion years ago • End: “Big Crunch”? • Perspective: What happens if we condensed 13 billion years – the est. age of the Universe – into 13 years?

  3. Perspective: If the Universe began 13 years ago, then at this moment…. • The earth would have existed for about 5 years • Multi-cellular organisms, for 7 months • The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs would have landed 3 weeks ago • Hominids (bipedal apes) would have existed for 3 days • Our own species, Homo Sapiens, for 53 minutes • Farm based societies, for 5 minutes • The entire recorded history, for 3 minutes • Modern industrial society, for 6 seconds Is that the appropriate scope for our WH class?

  4. What is the Appropriate Scope of World History? • Existence of “man”? • Hominids split from great apes about 4 million years ago • Australeopithecus • Homo Habilis • Homo Erectus • Homo Sapiens / Neanderthal

  5. Perspective: Man’s Existence • If you made a timeline of man’s existence with graph paper, how long would it be? • Assume 1 square = 1000 years • 55 squares / sheet (hot dog style) • How many squares = hominid existence? 73 Sheets!!!

  6. Perspective: Civilization • Of the 73 sheets, how many represent non-hunter/gatherer man? • Not even one sheet - only 10-12 squares! • This change from hunter gatherer to settled farmer is called the “Neolithic Revolution” • The Neolithic Revolution led directly to civilization

  7. What is the appropriate scope of World History? • Civilization was driven by agriculture • More food = support more people • More people = more mouths to feed • BUT more people = more food you can grow • With more people & more food, you must organize = civilization • THUS: CIVILIZATION IS ALL ABOUT FOOD SURPLUS!!!

  8. Why have Humans Succeeded? • Humans have been successful at adapting to their environment • Natural selection (genetic) • Individual learning (trial & error) • “Collective learning” (Education, record keeping)

  9. Appropriate Scope of World History? Study of Civilization • Major points of World History • Neolithic Revolution • Rise of Civilization • Columbian Exchange • Industrial Revolution • Modern Era The “Columbian Exchange”

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