David Christian author photo

David Christian

Nacido: 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.

Biografía y Trayectoria del Autor

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))

Mostrar Más

Citas

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

Descubre más

History
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

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.

4 h 25 m5 Secciones
The Antediluvian Blueprint
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

The Antediluvian Blueprint

This plan bridges the gap between historical philosophy, genetics, and catastrophe theory to uncover the hidden foundations of human history. It is designed for researchers and history enthusiasts eager to explore the intersection of myth, science, and the antediluvian past.

1 h 30 m3 Secciones
learn more history
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

learn more history

This plan offers a comprehensive journey through the pivotal eras and ideologies that constructed our modern world. It is ideal for lifelong learners and students who want to develop a critical perspective on global events and the evolution of human society.

6 h 28 m4 Secciones
Ancient Empires and Lost Worlds
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

Ancient Empires and Lost Worlds

This plan offers a deep dive into the foundations of human society by blending archaeology with cultural history. It is ideal for history enthusiasts and lifelong learners who want to understand how ancient power dynamics and daily life continue to influence the modern world.

1 h 45 m4 Secciones
The Grand Architecture of Human Civilization
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

The Grand Architecture of Human Civilization

This plan bridges classical philosophy with modern economic and leadership challenges to provide a holistic view of societal development. It is ideal for aspiring leaders and history enthusiasts who want to understand the intellectual foundations of today's global systems.

1 h 30 m3 Secciones
The Human Story Across Scales
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

The Human Story Across Scales

This plan offers a high-level synthesis of anthropology, history, and strategy for those seeking to understand the drivers of human progress. It is ideal for leaders, strategists, and curious minds who want to apply historical patterns to modern challenges.

2 h 30 m5 Secciones
The Evolution of Human Expression
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

The Evolution of Human Expression

This plan provides a deep philosophical dive into how human creativity has mirrored cultural shifts over millennia. It is ideal for art historians, philosophers, and curious minds looking to understand the intersection of technology, spirituality, and visual culture.

2 h 30 m5 Secciones
The Life of Jesus in Context
PLAN DE APRENDIZAJE

The Life of Jesus in Context

This plan offers a historical and cultural deep dive into the environment that shaped the ministry of Jesus. It is ideal for history buffs, theology students, and educators seeking to understand the socio-political tensions of the ancient Near East.

2 h4 Secciones

Voces de la Comunidad

"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 ((

Preguntas frecuentes sobre esta página

Creado por exalumnos de la Universidad de Columbia en San Francisco

BeFreed Reúne a una Comunidad Global de 1,000,000 Mentes Curiosas

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

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

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"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
platform
star
star
star
star
star

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

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

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

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"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
platform
star
star
star
star
star

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

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

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

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"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
platform
star
star
star
star
star

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

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Comienza tu viaje de aprendizaje, ahora