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
Offers new insights into the future of humanity by providing a better understanding of the past
Features a variety of updates and revisions that include increased coverage of key concepts such as the emergence of human behaviour, the development of value systems, and patterns of complexity in Big History
Incorporates a variety of 'little big histories' that aid readers in recognizing how big history concepts can relate to their daily lives
Instructor resources from the author will be available online upon publication

Big History: Between Nothing and Everything - David Christian

Big History: Between Nothing and Everything surveys the past not just of humanity, or even of planet Earth, but of the entire universe. In reading this book instructors and students will retrace a voyage that began 13.7 billion years ago with the Big Bang and the appearance of the universe. Big history incorporates findings from cosmology, earth and life sciences, and human history, and assembles them into a single, universal historical narrative of our universe and of our place within it.

The first edition of Big History: Between Nothing and Everything, is written by the pioneers of the field, and presents a framework for learning about anything and everything. It encourages students to think critically about our cumulative history and the future of the world through a variety of lenses.

Big History: From the Big Bang to the Present - Cynthia S. Brown

Extend the human story backward for the five thousand years of recorded history and it covers no more than a millionth of a lifetime of the Earth. Yet how do we humans take stock of the history of our planet, and our own place within it? A “vast historical mosaic” (Publishers Weekly) rendered engaging and accessible, Big History interweaves different disciplines of knowledge to offer an all-encompassing account of history on Earth.

Since its publication, Cynthia Brown’s “world history on a grand scale” (Kirkus) has been translated into nine languages and has helped propel the “big history” concept to viral status. This new edition of Brown’s seminal work is more relevant today than ever before, as we increasingly must grapple with accelerating rates of change and, ultimately, the legacy we will bequeath to future generations. Here is a pathbreaking portrait of our world, from the birth of the universe from a single point the size of an atom to life on a twenty-first-century planet inhabited by 7 billion people.

Big History: Our Incredible Journey - David Christian

Understand how and why we got where we are today with Big History.

From the formation of our universe to the present day, countless major events have changed the course of life on Earth. Big History brings together an incredible range of perspectives, using multiple disciplines including physics and sociology to bring us the story of 13.8 billion years of remarkable history. With a foreword by TED speaker Professor David Christian, Big History is a truly unique look at the history of the world.

Aligned with the online Big History Project, supported by Bill Gates, Big History puts a wide-angle lens on history, and uses stunning visual timelines and special CGI reconstructions to show you history's greatest events like never before. Look back to our origins in the stars, and explore everything from the birth of the sun to modern technology, and what the future holds for humans.

The perfect gift for everyone interested in every aspect of history, Big History presents the history of the world as you've never seen it.

Cartoon History of the Universe - Larry Gonick

An entertaining and informative illustrated guide that makes world history accessible, appealing, and funny.

Review - If Larry Gonick had written the ancient history books, chances are we would all be staying awake during world history class. This book is not only funny, but informative as well. Both trivial and essential topics are addressed and explained in wonderful cartoon detail. If this book doesn't get you excited about ancient history, then my friend give up hope, because if this doesn't nothing will. Gonick takes us from the beginning of time to Alexander the great, and it's a fun and memorable ride the whole way. OH, but don't be discouraged by it's large size. Chances are you'll finish it in a day or two AT THE MOST!! It's so entertaining, you'll take it with you to the carpool and read it while you 'work'. This book will double you IQ, I gurantee it. And you'll becoming back to it no mattter how many times you reread it. I can not recommend this book enough, if I could change the history text book ciriculum to include this I would. But I can't so you'll just have to settle for the next best thing.

Earth: The Definitive Visual Guide - DK

A breathtaking and inspirational exploration of planet Earth

From the fiery mass of the Earth's core to the tip of the highest ice-capped mountain, discover every aspect of our planet in awe-inspiring photographic detail with Earth.

Visit 400 of the tallest, longest, widest, most significant and most unusual geographical features of planet Earth, from volcanoes, deserts and rivers to weather systems, rocks and minerals. Then take a look at the health of our planet and explore the interaction between people and the environment, from living in volcanic areas to deforestation, to understand the human impact on nature and how we can preserve our physical environment.

Fully updated, revised and enhanced with new digital artworks, geographical advances and developments, this new edition of Earth is an extraordinary about-this-world read.

History: The Definitive Visual Guide - Adam Hart-Davis

The definitive 4 million year-old story of human history

History is a visual feast covering everything from our remote ancestors up to the 21st century. With over 3,000 images, you'll discover the complete story of the people, events, themes, ideas and forces that have shaped human existence from the origins of mankind to Sputnik, Machu Pichu and recent events.

Find out about history's turning points through eyewitness accounts and biographies that give a personal angle to major events. Explore humankind's legacy from architecture and artefacts to the big ideas that have changed our world. Examine the effect we've had on nature and vice versa. And discover how the past has been unlocked, from interpreting ancient documents to analysing ice cores.

History is a compelling look at human existence and a must-have reference book for the family bookshelf.

Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History - David Christian

An introduction to a new way of looking at history, from a perspective that stretches from the beginning of time to the present day, Maps of Time is world history on an unprecedented scale. Beginning with the Big Bang, David Christian views the interaction of the natural world with the more recent arrivals in flora and fauna, including human beings.

Cosmology, geology, archeology, and population and environmental studies—all figure in David Christian's account, which is an ambitious overview of the emerging field of "Big History." Maps of Time opens with the origins of the universe, the stars and the galaxies, the sun and the solar system, including the earth, and conducts readers through the evolution of the planet before human habitation. It surveys the development of human society from the Paleolithic era through the transition to agriculture, the emergence of cities and states, and the birth of the modern, industrial period right up to intimations of possible futures. Sweeping in scope, finely focused in its minute detail, this riveting account of the known world, from the inception of space-time to the prospects of global warming, lays the groundwork for world history—and Big History—true as never before to its name.

Science: The Definitive Visual Guide - Robert Dinwiddie

The complete illustrated science encyclopedia covering the history, key discoveries, inventions and people

Science: The Definitive Visual Guide reveals the story of scientific progress from the invention of the wheel to 21st-century climate solutions, including everything from ancient Greek geometry and quantum physics to the worldwide web.

Explore every key moment of scientific discovery with this remarkable reference book and find out how the concepts, inventions and the individuals behind them have changed our world.

With stunning artworks and authoritative information Science: The Definitive Visual Guide, now in compact format makes even complex scientific subjects easily comprehensible.

Teaching Big History - Richard B. Simon

Big History is a new field on a grand scale: it tells the story of the universe over time through a diverse range of disciplines that spans cosmology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and archaeology, thereby reconciling traditional human history with environmental geography and natural history.

Weaving the myriad threads of evidence-based human knowledge into a master narrative that stretches from the beginning of the universe to the present, the Big History framework helps students make sense of their studies in all disciplines by illuminating the structures that underlie the universe and the connections among them.

Teaching Big History is a powerful analytic and pedagogical resource, and serves as a comprehensive guide for teaching Big History, as well for sharing ideas about the subject and planning a curriculum around it. Readers are also given helpful advice about the administrative and organizational challenges of instituting a general education program constructed around Big History. The book includes teaching materials, examples, and detailed sample exercises.

This book is also an engaging first-hand account of how a group of professors built an entire Big History general education curriculum for first-year students, demonstrating how this thoughtful integration of disciplines exemplifies liberal education at its best and illustrating how teaching and learning this incredible story can be transformative for professors and students alike.

The History Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained - DK

"The History Book" is a fascinating journey through the most significant events in history and the big ideas behind each one, from the dawn of civilization to the lightning-paced culture of today. One hundred crystal-clear articles explore the Law Code of Hammurabi, the Renaissance, the American Revolution, World War II, and much, much more, bringing the events and people of history to life.

As part of DK's award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series, "The History Book" uses infographics and images to explain key ideas and themes. Biographies of key leaders, thinkers, and warriors, from Julius Caesar to Barack Obama, offer insight into their lives and further historical insight into these world-changing episodes.

"The History Book" makes the past 4,000 years of history accessible and provides enlightenment on the forces that shaped the world as we know it today, for students and history buffs alike.

The Infographic History of the World - Valentina D'Efilippo

A new type of history is here – all 13.8 billion years of it, exploded into a visually jaw-dropping feast of facts, trends and timelines that tell you everything you’d ever want to know about the history of the world.

From the primordial soup to the technological revolution of the 21st century, interesting stuff has been going on; and ever since prehistoric man scratched the first tally markings into a damp cave wall, we’ve been counting and measuring it all.

Which historic warriors conquered the most territory, killed the most people, or had the largest empire?
When did everything evolve?
Which languages are related to which?
What’s been invented and when?
Where are we being born, and what are we dying of?
Which countries are eating all the food, causing all the pollution and taking all the drugs?

The Little Book of Big History - Ian Crofton and Jeremy Black

From the Big Bang to the future of our planet, The Little Book of Big History divides history into manageable but comprehensive time frames, encompassing the cosmos, the stars, life and everything in between.

Big History is the attempt to understand and condense the entire story of the cosmos, from the Big Bang to the current day. Combining methods from history, astronomy, physics and biology to draw together the big story arcs of how the universe was created, why planets formed and how life developed, this creates a unique perspective from which to understand the place of mankind in the universe. Excited by the alternative 'framework for all knowledge' that is offered by this approach, Bill Gates is funding the Big History Project, which aims to bring the subject to a wider audience around the world.

The Little Book of Big History breaks down the main themes of Big History into highly informative and accessible parts for all readers to enjoy. By giving a truly complete timeline of world events, this book shines a whole different light on history as we learned it and makes us think of our history - and our future - in a very different way.

The Penguin History of the World: 6th Edition - J.M. Roberts

This is a completely new and updated edition of J. M. Roberts and Odd Arne Westad's widely acclaimed, landmark bestseller The Penguin History of the World.

For generations of readers The Penguin History of the World has been one of the great cultural experiences - the entire story of human endeavour laid out in all its grandeur and folly, drama and pain in a single authoritative book. Now, for the first time, it has been completely overhauled for its 6th edition - not just bringing it up to date, but revising it throughout in the light of new research and discoveries, such as the revolution in our understanding of many civilizations in the Ancient World. The closing sections of the book reflect what now seems to be the inexorable rise of Asia and the increasingly troubled situation in the West.

J.M. Roberts, CBE, published The Penguin History of the World in 1976 to immediate acclaim. His other major books include The Paris Commune from the Right, The Triumph of the West (which was also a successful television series), The Penguin History of Europe and The Penguin History of the Twentieth Century. He died in 2003.

Odd Arne Westad, FBA, is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. He has published fifteen books on modern and contemporary international history, among them The Global Cold War, which won the Bancroft Prize, and Decisive Encounters, a standard history of the Chinese civil war. He also served as general co-editor of the Cambridge History of the Cold War.

Timelines of History - DK

Now in paperback, "Timelines of History" takes readers through the history of cultures and nations around the world from the emergence of our earliest African ancestors to the present day. Dynamic timeline spreads, features on influential people, places, events and innovations, and easily accessible cross-references all build into a narrative that takes readers back and forth through time.

"Timelines of History" makes the past accessible to all families, students, and the general reader

Timelines of Science - DK

Now available in paperback, "Timelines of Science" is an informative guide to the history of scientific discovery and technology. that follows the path chronologically, and explores everything from ancient Greek geometry to quantum physics. "Timelines of Science" highlights the theories, breakthroughs, and key thinkers that shaped the science as we know it today, from the discovery of penicillin to the advent of the Internet.

Filled with striking visuals, including specially commissioned photography, arresting infographics, and illustrations that illuminate technological discovery, "Timelines of Science" includes major advances in all the sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy.

Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide - Martin Rees

From the fiery mass of the Sun's core to the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, Universe takes you on the ultimate guided tour of the cosmos. Full of stunning out-of-this world images reflecting recent advances in space imagery, you'll go on a journey from our solar system all the way to the farthest limits of space.

This new edition has been expanded and updated to include the most exciting new discoveries from water on Mars to planets in other solar systems plus up-to-date charts and information on the latest equipment for studying the wonders of the universe. The comprehensive night-sky atlas covers all the constellations and planetary charts showing their positions right up to 2019.

With a special embossed jacket, Universe is a beautiful gift for keen amateur astronomers as well as a great reference book for the whole family.

FURTHER READING

Big History and the Future of Humanity - Fred Spier