David Christian author photo

David Christian

Nato: 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.

Biografia e Percorso dell'Autore

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))

Mostra Di Più

Citazioni

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
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You have to survey the whole history of the Universe. So let’s do it
-The History of Everything - TED
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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

Scopri di più

History
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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 Sezioni
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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.

6 h 5 m4 Sezioni
History as a Living Blueprint
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History as a Living Blueprint

This plan is essential for those seeking to understand the recurring patterns of human civilization and the mechanics of systemic change. It is ideal for students of sociology, history buffs, or anyone wanting to decode how past innovations and crises shape our current world.

1 h 36 m4 Sezioni
The Big Picture of Humanity
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The Big Picture of Humanity

This learning plan offers a panoramic view of the human experience, bridging the gap between evolutionary biology and modern data science. It is ideal for curious minds and history enthusiasts who want to understand how our past shapes our current global reality and future potential.

1 h 12 m3 Sezioni
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.

5 h 42 m4 Sezioni
Explore world history
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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.

5 h 2 m4 Sezioni
Explore History, Science, Tech & Culture
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Explore History, Science, Tech & Culture

This plan offers a panoramic view of human progress, bridging the gap between ancient history and future technology. It is ideal for lifelong learners and professionals seeking to understand the historical and scientific forces that drive today's digital world.

5 h 44 m4 Sezioni
The Human Story: From Apes to Empires
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The Human Story: From Apes to Empires

This plan offers a panoramic view of human history, blending biology, economics, and sociology to explain our current world. It is ideal for curious minds and students of history who want to understand the systemic forces that shaped civilization.

1 h 36 m4 Sezioni

Voci della Community

"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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