Maps of Time by David Christian introduces a new way of looking at history from a perspective stretching from the beginning of time to the present day—world history on an unprecedented scale. Beginning with the Big Bang, Christian views the interaction of the natural world with more recent arrivals in flora and fauna, including human beings, drawing on cosmology, geology, archeology, population and environmental studies in an ambitious overview of the emerging field of “Big History.” The book opens with the origins of the universe, stars, galaxies, sun, and solar system, conducts readers through the evolution of the planet before human habitation, then surveys human society from the Paleolithic era through the transition to agriculture, the emergence of cities and states, the birth of the modern industrial period, and intimations of possible futures.
Why It Matters: Understanding humanity’s place in the cosmos and our relationship to all that came before us requires a narrative that doesn’t begin with civilization or even with humans—but with the inception of space-time itself. By weaving together cosmology, geology, biology, and human history into one continuous story, Christian provides the integrative framework needed to comprehend challenges like global warming that operate on timescales and systems far larger than conventional history addresses. Big History lays the groundwork for seeing ourselves as part of an unfolding cosmic story, transforming how we understand both where we came from and where we might be headed.
