Big History and the Future of Humanity

__Big History and the Future of Humanity__ presents an original theoretical approach that makes “big history” – the placing of the human past within the history of life, the Earth, and the Universe -- accessible to general readers while revealing insights into what the future may hold for humanity.* Provides an accessible and original overview of the entire sweep of history that places human history within the history of life, the Earth, and the Universe * Features an original theory of “big history” which explains all of history and opens up an entirely new interdisciplinary research agenda * Offers new insights into the future of humanity by better understanding the past * Presents a new approach to complexity studies, which takes into account the greatest galaxy clusters as well as the tiniest sub-atomic particles Content: Chapter 1 Introduction to Big History (pages 1–17): Chapter 2 General Approach (pages 18–40): Chapter 3 Cosmic Evolution: The Emergence of Simple Forms of Complexity (pages 41–61): Chapter 4 Our Cosmic Neighborhood: The Emergence of Greater Complexity (pages 62–81): Chapter 5 Life on Earth: The Widening Range of Complexity (pages 82–110): Chapter 6 Early Human History: The Emergence of the Greatest Known Complexity (pages 111–137): Chapter 7 Recent Human History: The Development of the Greatest Known Complexity (pages 138–188): Chapter 8 Facing the Future (pages 189–205): BIG HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 7 LIST OF FIGURES......Page 10 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 11 Introduction......Page 19 Studying the Past......Page 20 A Very Short History of Academic History......Page 25 A Short History of Big History......Page 27 A Historical Theory of Everything?......Page 34 Introduction......Page 36 Matter and Energy......Page 39 Complexity......Page 42 Energy Flows and the Emergence of Complexity......Page 47 The Goldilocks Principle......Page 54 Introduction......Page 59 The Big Bang: No Complexity......Page 60 Recent Issues Concerning the Big Bang Scenario......Page 62 The Radiation Era: The Emergence of Complexity at the Smallest Scales......Page 63 The Matter Era: The Emergence of Complexity at Atomic and Molecular Scales......Page 67 Galaxy Formation: The Emergence of Complexity at Larger Scales......Page 69 The Emergence of Stars......Page 73 Stars as Nuclear Forges......Page 77 Introduction......Page 80 The Galactic Habitable Zone......Page 81 The Emergence of Our Cosmic Neighborhood......Page 83 The Solar System Habitable Zone......Page 86 Major Characteristics of Earth......Page 88 Early Inner Planetary History......Page 91 Early Earth History......Page 92 Life Is Very Special......Page 93 The Emergence of Life......Page 96 Life, Energy and Complexity......Page 100 Planetary Energy Flows and Life......Page 106 The Gaia Hypothesis......Page 108 The Emergence of Energy Harvesting from Outside......Page 112 The Emergence of the Biological Food Web......Page 115 The Emergence of Multicellular Organisms......Page 119 The Emergence of Brains and Consciousness......Page 121 The Increase and Expansion of Biological Complexity......Page 123 Conquest of the Land......Page 124 Further Increasing Complexity......Page 126 Introduction......Page 129 What Makes Humans Different......Page 130 Energy and Complexity......Page 133 The Emergence of Early Humans......Page 135 Improving Social Coordination......Page 138 Tool Making and Brain Growth......Page 139 Brains and Intestines......Page 142 Fire Control......Page 144 Migration......Page 146 The Rise of Modern Humans......Page 149 Early Religion......Page 154 Introduction......Page 156 The Agrarian Revolution......Page 159 The Developing Agrarian Regime......Page 164 Social Effects of the Agrarian Revolution......Page 167 The Emergence of Agrarian Religions......Page 169 Increasing Agricultural Complexity and Declining Untamed Complexity......Page 171 Early State Formation......Page 174 The Emergence of Big States......Page 178 The Emergence of Moral Religions......Page 180 Energy and Complexity in State Societies......Page 181 The First Wave of Globalization......Page 186 Industrialization: The Second Wave of Globalization......Page 191 Informatization: The Third Wave of Globalization......Page 198 Energy, Complexity and Goldilocks Circumstances......Page 201 Introduction......Page 207 A Very Short Overview of the Long Future of the Universe......Page 209 The Future of Earth and Life......Page 210 The Future of Humanity......Page 211 The Availability of Matter and Energy......Page 214 Exhaustion of Critical Resources and Growing Entropy......Page 218 Will Humans Migrate to Other Planets?......Page 220 Final Words......Page 221 Appendix: A SHORT TIME LINE OF BIG HISTORY......Page 224 NOTES......Page 226 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 257 INDEX......Page 280 Big History Places The Human Past Within The History Of Life, The Earth, And The Universe. In Doing So, This Emerging Field Of Historical Study Provides Us With An Overview Of The Known Past In Its Entirety, From The Beginning Of Time Until The Present Day. In Big History And The Future Of Humanity, Spier Presents A Simple Theoretical Approach That Not Only Makes Big History Accessible, But Reveals What The Future May Hold For Humanity. This Original New Approach Interprets Big History As The History Of The Rise And Demise Of Complexity In All Its Myriad Forms, From The Greatest Galaxy Clusters To The Tiniest Sub-atomic Particles. While Focusing On Energy Flows Through Matter And The Circumstances That Produce Complexity, The Author Traces The Emergence And Decline Of All The Major Forms Of Complexity That Have Existed, Including Human Societies And Their Products. Breathtaking In Scope, Big History And The Future Of Humanity Offers Provocative New Insights Into The Origins And Development Of Life And Serves As An Invitation To Ponder Humans' Place In The Cosmos In A Fascinating New Way.--jacket. Introduction To Big History -- General Approach -- Cosmic Evolution : The Emergence Of Simple Forms Of Complexity -- Our Cosmic Neighborhood : The Emergence Of Greater Complexity -- Life On The Earth : The Widening Range Of Complexity -- Early Human History : The Emergence Of The Greatest Known Complexity -- Recent Human History : The Development Of The Greatest Known Complexity -- Facing The Future. Fred Spier. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. ""Big History" places the human past within the history of life, the Earth, and the Universe. In doing so, the emerging field of historical study provides us with an overview of the known past in its entirety, from the beginning of time until the present day. In big History and the Future of Humanity, Spier presents a simple theoretical approach that not only makes big history accessible, but reveals what the future may hold for humanity."--Back cover.