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Big History - From the Big Bang until Today

Approx. 12 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Big History is a unique interdisciplinary course that explores the history of the universe from the Big Bang to modern day. Learn the connections between different fields of study and gain a new perspective on the world.

Key Learning Points

Big History covers a wide range of topics, including astronomy, biology, geology, anthropology and more
The course explores the history of the universe and how everything is interconnected
Big History offers a new way of looking at the world, providing a fresh perspective on our place in the universe

Learning Outcomes

Gain a deeper understanding of the history of the universe and our place in it
Develop critical thinking skills by connecting different fields of study
Expand your knowledge and gain a new perspective on the world

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prior knowledge required
Open to anyone interested in learning about the history of the universe

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Self-paced
Online
Video lectures
Interactive activities

Similar Courses

A Brief History of Humankind
The Origin of Life
The History of the World Since 1300

Related Education Paths

Related Books

Description

Welcome to this Big History course! In this course, renowned scientists and scholars from the University of Amsterdam and beyond will take you on a journey from the Big Bang until today while addressing key questions in their fields. After completing this journey you will have developed a better understanding of how you and everything around you became the way they are today. You will also have gained an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that have helped shape the history of everything and how they wil help shape the future. Last but not least, you will have developed the skill to use this knowledge to put smaller subjects into a bigger perspective with the aid of the little big history approach, which can help you develop some new ideas on these smaller subjects.

Outline

Introduction
How can we summarize 13.8 billion years in one brief course?
How big is big history?
What are little big histories?
Can big history reunify all our knowledge?

Cosmic History
Why do we think big history started with a Big Bang?
What are the elementary particles our universe is made of?
What are the fundamental forces that determine how our universe behaves?
Is our Standard Model of elementary particles and fundamental forces complete?
Why are massive stars so important to us?
How do stars die?
What does our cosmic neighbourhood look like?
Does our Solar System have a history?
What is underlying all of big history?
A tour of cosmic history
Little Big History Example Connections
Cosmic history

The History of Earth and Life
How did life emerge on Earth?
How did evolution lead to the incredible diversity of life we see around us?
Why do species look the way they do and how are they all related?
How did life develop on the early Earth?
What happened on our planet during mass extinctions?
Why has our Earth cooled over the past millions of years?
How can understanding the evolution of the brain help us understand human history?
How did brain evolution lead to the development of our consciousness?
Can we understand the evolution of our species without the aid of sexual selection?
Can we develop a theory of the biosphere?
A tour of the history of Earth and life
Little Big History Example Connections
The history of Earth and life

Human History
Why did people start to farm?
Can big history tell us something new about the emergence of agriculture?
What is the use of religion in the history of our species?
Why did states, writing and state religion emerge together?
How are civilizations influenced by climate change?
When did globalization begin and what did it mean to different people across the globe?
How was life in Europe affected by early globalization?
What made industrial production possible?
What are the main consequences of the Industrial Revolution?
What have been the consequences of the Industrial Revolution for our environment?
How is our international financial system developing?
How are financial institutions affecting society?
How is artificial intelligence developing?
How will artificial intelligence influence your future?
Can we construct a theory of human history?
A tour of human history
Human history

Wrap up
What will the future of life, Earth and our universe look like?
What can big history tell us about the short term future?

Summary of User Reviews

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course provides a unique and interdisciplinary approach to history, which many users found engaging and enlightening.

Pros from User Reviews

The course content is well-structured and comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics.
The instructors are knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter.
The course provides a good balance between theory and practical applications.
The course is accessible and user-friendly for learners of all levels.
The course provides a global perspective on history, which is valuable for understanding current events.

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be too broad in scope and difficult to follow at times.
The course requires a significant time commitment, which may be challenging for some learners.
Some users found the assessments to be overly simplistic or repetitive.
The course may not be suitable for learners who prefer a more traditional or specialized approach to history.
Some users found the discussion forums to be unhelpful or disorganized.

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