Big History and the Future of Humanity, 2nd Edition

Featuring a variety of updates and revisions, __Big History andthe Future of Humanity__, __Second Edition__, presents anaccessible and original overview of the entire sweep of historyfrom the origins of the universe and origins of life on Earth up tothe present day. * Provides an accessible and original overview of the entiresweep of history that places human history within the context ofthe history of life, the Earth, and the universe * Offers new insights into the future of humanity by providing abetter understanding of the past * Features a variety of updates and revisions that includeincreased coverage of key concepts such as the emergence of humanbehaviour, the development of value systems, and patterns ofcomplexity in Big History * Incorporates a variety of 'little big histories' that aidreaders in recognizing how big history concepts can relate to theirdaily lives * Instructor resources from the author will be available onlineupon publication * Find additional resources from the author online at www.bighistory.info \* Title Page......Page 5 Copyright Page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 List of Figures......Page 10 List of Text Boxes......Page 12 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 13 A Short Time Line of Big History......Page 22 Introduction......Page 25 Studying the Past......Page 26 A Very Short History of Academic History......Page 36 A Short History of Big History......Page 42 A Historical Theory of Everything?......Page 53 Notes......Page 55 Bibliography......Page 57 Recommended Reading......Page 65 Introduction......Page 66 Matter and Energy......Page 69 Complexity......Page 72 Energy Flows and the Emergence of Complexity......Page 78 The Goldilocks Principle......Page 87 Notes......Page 92 Bibliography......Page 95 Recommended Reading......Page 97 Introduction......Page 98 The Big Bang: No Complexity......Page 99 Recent Issues Concerning the Big Bang Scenario......Page 101 The Radiation Era: The Emergence of Complexity at the Smallest Scales......Page 104 The Matter Era: The Emergence of Complexity at Atomic and Molecular Scales......Page 110 Galaxy Formation: The Emergence of Complexity at Larger Scales......Page 113 The Emergence of Stars......Page 119 Stars as Nuclear Forges......Page 124 Notes......Page 126 Bibliography......Page 129 Recommended Reading......Page 130 Introduction......Page 131 The Galactic Habitable Zone......Page 134 The Emergence of Our Cosmic Neighborhood......Page 135 The Solar System Habitable Zone......Page 140 Major Characteristics of Earth......Page 142 Early Inner Planetary History......Page 146 Early Earth History......Page 149 Life Is Very Special......Page 150 The Emergence of Life......Page 154 Notes......Page 158 Bibliography......Page 160 Recommended Reading......Page 162 Life, Energy and Complexity......Page 164 Planetary Energy Flows and Life......Page 171 The Gaia Hypothesis......Page 173 The Emergence of Energy Harvesting from Outside......Page 177 The Emergence of the Biological Food Web......Page 180 The Emergence of Multicellular Organisms......Page 184 The Emergence of Brains and Consciousness......Page 186 The Increase and Expansion of Biological Complexity......Page 190 Conquest of the Land......Page 192 Further Increasing Complexity......Page 194 Notes......Page 197 Bibliography......Page 199 Recommended Reading......Page 201 Introduction......Page 203 What Makes Humans Different......Page 204 Energy and Complexity......Page 207 The Emergence of Early Humans......Page 209 Improving Social Coordination......Page 212 Tool Making and Brain Growth......Page 213 Brains and Intestines......Page 217 Fire Control......Page 218 Migration......Page 221 The Rise of Modern Humans......Page 224 Early Religion......Page 229 Notes......Page 230 Bibliography......Page 233 Recommended Reading......Page 237 Introduction......Page 238 The Agrarian Revolution......Page 244 The Developing Agrarian Regime......Page 253 Social Effects of the Agrarian Revolution......Page 256 The Emergence of Agrarian Religions......Page 258 Increasing Agricultural Complexity and Declining Untamed Complexity......Page 259 Early State Formation......Page 264 The Emergence of Big States......Page 269 The Emergence of Moral Religions......Page 271 Energy and Complexity in State Societies......Page 275 The First Wave of Globalization......Page 280 Industrialization: The Second Wave of Globalization......Page 288 Informatization: The Third Wave of Globalization......Page 295 Energy, Complexity and Goldilocks Circumstances......Page 300 Notes......Page 305 Bibliography......Page 310 Recommended Reading......Page 317 Introduction......Page 319 A Very Short Overview of the Long Future of the Universe......Page 323 The Future of Earth and Life......Page 324 The Future of Humanity......Page 325 The Availability of Matter and Energy......Page 328 Exhaustion of Critical Resources and Growing Entropy......Page 333 Will Humans Migrate to Other Planets?......Page 335 Final Words......Page 337 Notes......Page 338 Bibliography......Page 339 Recommended Reading......Page 341 Index......Page 342 EULA......Page 361 big history and the future of humanity'This remains the best single attempt to theorize big history as a discipline that can link core concepts and paradigms across all historical disciplines, from cosmology to geology, from biology to human history. With additional and updated material, the Second Edition also offers a fine introduction to the history of big history and a superb introductory survey to the big history story. Essential reading for anyone interested in a rapidly evolving new field of scholarship that links the sciences and the humanities into a modern, science-based origin story.'—David Christian, Macquarie University'Notable for its theoretic approach, this new Second Edition is both an indispensable contribution to the emerging big history narrative and a powerful university textbook. Spier defines words carefully and recognizes the limits of current knowledge, aspects of his own clear thinking.'—Cynthia Brown, Emerita, Dominican University of California Reflecting the latest theories in the sciences and humanities, this new edition of Big History and the Future of Humanity presents an accessible and original overview of the entire sweep of history from the origins of the universe and life on Earth up to the present day. Placing the relatively brief period of human history within a much broader framework – one that considers everything from vast galaxy clusters to the tiniest sub-atomic particles – big history is an innovative theoretical approach that opens up entirely new multidisciplinary research agendas. Noted historian Fred Spier reveals how a thorough examination of patterns of complexity can offer richer insights into what the future may have in store for humanity. The second edition includes new learning features, such as highlighted scientific concepts, an illustrative timeline and comprehensive glossary. By exploring the cumulative history from the Big Bang to the modern day, Big History and the Future of Humanity, Second Edition, sheds important historical light on where we have been – and offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies ahead. Provides An Accessible And Original Overview Of The Entire Sweep Of History That Places Human History Within The Context Of The History Of Life, The Earth, And The Universe-- 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 -- Appendix: A Short Time Line Of Big History. Fred Spier. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Provides an accessible and original overview of the entire sweep of history that places human history within the context of the history of life, the Earth, and the universe"-- Provided by publisher