Big History

1.)Briefly describe 2 traditional origin stories and compare them to the origin story you grew up with or is most familiar to you. 2.)What is the relationship between the emergence of complexity, energy flows, and the Goldilocks conditions. Give examples. 3.)Discuss the different perspectives brought to Big History from the sciences, humanities and the social sciences. Give examples. 4.)In story form, place the major events of cosmic history of the first 4 threshold in order as outlined by Big Historians. 5.)Explain what we know about how life began, evolved, and how Homo Sapiens developed. 6.)What does Big History teach us about how humans spread across the globe and the notion of race? 7.)How and why did agriculture develop and why is it important? 8.)Explain the industrial revolution and its importance. 9.)Summarize Big History’s methodology as a tool for social understanding and social change and for academic advancement. 10.)Explain hierarchy, social control, colonization, racism, and sexism and understand their origin, and ‘purpose’. 11.)In story form, place the major events of history of the last 6 threshold in order as outlined by Big Historians. 12.)Describe the ninth (future) threshold. How do you see your future as a result of this?