David Christian author photo

David Christian

출생: December 08, 1946 – Brooklyn, New York, United States

David Christian is a historian and pioneer of Big History, known for tracing human and cosmic history across deep time. He is the author of Maps of Time and co-author of Origin Story, and he helped found the Big History Project, bringing interdisciplinary history teaching to classrooms worldwide.

전기 및 작가의 여정

David Christian is a historian whose work moved outward from national history to the widest temporal scale imaginable. Born in New York in 1946 to British and American parents, he spent much of his childhood in Nigeria before schooling in England. He took a BA in modern history at Oxford, completed an MA in Russian history at the University of Western Ontario, and returned to Oxford for a D.Phil. awarded in 1974. His early career at Macquarie University was grounded in Russian and Soviet history, producing books on Russian food, drink, and Inner Eurasia. The decisive turn came in 1989, when a discussion about how to introduce students to history pushed him toward a radical question: why not begin at the beginning? That question led him from human history to geology, biology, and finally to the history of the universe itself. ((https://storage.googleapis.com/coursetexts-notion/usmani%20sociol2204/readings/Christian%20and%20McNeill%20-%20Maps%20of%20Time%20An%20Introduction%20to%20Big%20History.pdf))

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명언

quote
Once you’ve reduced 13 billion years to a 13-week semester, reducing it to 18 minutes is hard … but can be done
-A history curriculum that starts at the beginning of time
quote
Big history is a modern version of all these stories
-What Is Big History?
quote
Life exists in a thin sphere around the surface of the earth
-Life in All Its Forms
quote
You have to survey the whole history of the Universe. So let’s do it
-The History of Everything - TED
quote
Big history tries to look at the past on all scales, from those of conventional history up to those of cosmology
-What’s the Use of Big History?
quote
We need a history of humanity
-We Need A Modern Origin Story: A Big History

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History and creation science

History and creation science

학습 계획

History and creation science

This plan bridges the gap between empirical scientific data and philosophical inquiries into our origins. It is ideal for curious minds seeking to reconcile the 13.8-billion-year cosmic narrative with the profound questions of faith and human meaning.

2 h 53 m4 섹션
History

History

학습 계획

History

This plan provides a comprehensive look at how human history is constructed and interpreted beyond just dates and facts. It is ideal for curious learners and students who want to develop critical thinking skills and understand the forces shaping our modern global society.

2 h 32 m5 섹션
classic christian authors

classic christian authors

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classic christian authors

This plan offers a comprehensive journey through the minds that built the Christian tradition, from ancient architects to modern apologists. It is ideal for students of history, theology, or personal faith seeking to ground their understanding in time-tested wisdom.

3 h 25 m4 섹션
History of Christianity

History of Christianity

학습 계획

History of Christianity

This comprehensive exploration of Christianity's 2,000-year journey is essential for anyone seeking to understand Western civilization, global history, or contemporary religious dynamics. Whether you're a student of history, religion, politics, or culture—or simply curious about how one movement shaped entire continents—this learning path provides the historical context needed to comprehend modern society's foundations and ongoing religious debates.

2 h 39 m4 섹션
Explore world history

Explore world history

학습 계획

Explore world history

This comprehensive exploration of world history provides essential context for understanding our interconnected modern world and the forces that continue to shape human societies. It's ideal for curious learners seeking to develop a big-picture perspective on human civilization, professionals working in international contexts, or anyone wanting to become a more informed global citizen capable of recognizing historical patterns in current events.

1 h 58 m4 섹션
To widen my history knowledge

To widen my history knowledge

학습 계획

To widen my history knowledge

This learning plan provides a structured journey through human history, from our earliest ancestors to contemporary times, offering essential context for understanding today's world. It's ideal for curious learners seeking to make sense of current events, professionals wanting broader perspective in their decision-making, or anyone who believes that understanding where we've been is crucial to navigating where we're going.

2 h 30 m4 섹션
Study ancient to modern hist

Study ancient to modern hist

학습 계획

Study ancient to modern hist

This comprehensive historical journey is essential for anyone seeking to understand how our modern world came to be and why contemporary societies function as they do. It's ideal for students, professionals in policy or international relations, educators, and curious learners who want to develop informed perspectives on current events through the lens of historical patterns. Understanding this historical arc provides critical context for navigating today's complex global challenges and recognizing recurring themes in human civilization.

2 h 39 m4 섹션
Know history & follow Jesus

Know history & follow Jesus

학습 계획

Know history & follow Jesus

This learning plan bridges intellectual understanding with practical faith, ideal for seekers wanting to ground their beliefs in historical evidence, believers desiring deeper discipleship, or anyone curious about Christianity's profound impact on civilization. It combines rigorous historical investigation with transformative spiritual practices, making it valuable for both newcomers exploring Christianity and committed followers seeking to deepen their walk with Christ.

2 h 18 m4 섹션

커뮤니티 의견

"David Christian teaches an ambitious world history course that tells the tale of the entire universe"

TED ((

"David Christian is one of the grandest parachutists of them all—so grand that he's almost a space traveler"

American Scientist ((

"David Christian charts our course from the Big Bang to today"

TED Blog ((

"David Christian covers 13 billion years in 600 pages and poses some suitably weighty questions"

The Guardian ((

"A wave of mainstream media attention shines a spotlight on David Christian, a leading proponent of ‘big history"

Publishers Weekly ((

"David Christian’s approach to understanding history can help all of us learn to prepare for the future that lies ahead"

Bill Gates ((

"David Christian’s ‘big history’ synthesizes several disciplines, from astrobiology to behavioral economics, to tell the story of the universe"

The Washington Post ((

"Big History founder David Christian enthusiastically turns his attention to humanity's short- and long-term future"

Shelf Awareness ((

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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
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96
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