{"product_id":"big-history-and-the-future-of-humanity-paperback-softback-9781118881729","title":"Big History and the Future of Humanity (Paperback \/ softback) 9781118881729","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eBig History and the Future of Humanity\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eFred Spier (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781118881729, Wiley\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 24 April 2015\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e368 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.6 x 15 x 2.3 cm, 0.544 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ebig history and the future of humanity\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"This remains the best single attempt to theorize big history as a discipline that can link core concepts and paradigms across all historical disciplines, from cosmology to geology, from biology to human history. With additional and updated material, the Second Edition also offers a fine introduction to the history of big history and a superb introductory survey to the big history story. Essential reading for anyone interested in a rapidly evolving new field of scholarship that links the sciences and the humanities into a modern, science-based origin story.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eDavid Christian,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eMacquarie University\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Notable for its theoretic approach, this new Second Edition is both an indispensable contribution to the emerging big history narrative and a powerful university textbook. Spier defines words carefully and recognizes the limits of current knowledge, aspects of his own clear thinking.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eCynthia Brown,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eEmerita, Dominican University of California\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReflecting the latest theories in the sciences and humanities, this new edition of \u003ci\u003eBig History and the Future of Humanity\u003c\/i\u003e presents an accessible and original overview of the entire sweep of history from the origins of the universe and life on Earth up to the present day. Placing the relatively brief period of human history within a much broader framework – one that considers everything from vast galaxy clusters to the tiniest sub-atomic particles – big history is an innovative theoretical approach that opens up entirely new multidisciplinary research agendas. Noted historian Fred Spier reveals how a thorough examination of patterns of complexity can offer richer insights into what the future may have in store for humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe second edition includes new learning features, such as highlighted scientific concepts, an illustrative timeline and comprehensive glossary. By exploring the cumulative history from the Big Bang to the modern day, \u003ci\u003eBig History and the Future of Humanity, Second Edition,\u003c\/i\u003e sheds important historical light on where we have been – and offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies ahead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eList of Figures viii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eList of Text Boxes x\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface and Acknowledgments xi\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Short Time Line of Big History xx\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter One Introduction to Big History 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 1\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudying the Past 2\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Very Short History of Academic History 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Short History of Big History 18\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Historical Theory of Everything? 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Two General Approach 42\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 42\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMatter and Energy 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eComplexity 48\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy Flows and the Emergence of Complexity 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Goldilocks Principle 63\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Three Cosmic Evolution: The Emergence of Simple Forms of Complexity 74\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 74\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Big Bang: No Complexity 75\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecent Issues Concerning the Big Bang Scenario 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Radiation Era: The Emergence of Complexity at the Smallest Scales 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Matter Era: The Emergence of Complexity at Atomic and Molecular Scales 86\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGalaxy Formation: The Emergence of Complexity at Larger Scales 89\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Stars 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStars as Nuclear Forges 100\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Four Our Cosmic Neighborhood: The Emergence of Greater Complexity 107\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 107\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Galactic Habitable Zone 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Our Cosmic Neighborhood 111\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Solar System Habitable Zone 116\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMajor Characteristics of Earth 118\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly Inner Planetary History 122\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly Earth History 125\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLife Is Very Special 126\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Life 130\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Five Life on Earth: The Widening Range of Complexity 140\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLife, Energy and Complexity 140\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlanetary Energy Flows and Life 147\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Gaia Hypothesis 149\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Energy Harvesting from Outside 153\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of the Biological Food Web 156\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Multicellular Organisms 160\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Brains and Consciousness 162\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Increase and Expansion of Biological Complexity 166\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConquest of the Land 168\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther Increasing Complexity 170\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Six Early Human History: The Emergence of the Greatest Known Complexity 179\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 179\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat Makes Humans Different 180\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy and Complexity 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Early Humans 185\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eImproving Social Coordination 188\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTool Making and Brain Growth 189\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBrains and Intestines 193\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFire Control 194\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMigration 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Rise of Modern Humans 200\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly Religion 205\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Seven Recent Human History: The Development of the Greatest Known Complexity 214\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 214\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Agrarian Revolution 220\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Developing Agrarian Regime 229\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial Effects of the Agrarian Revolution 232\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Agrarian Religions 234\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncreasing Agricultural Complexity and Declining Untamed Complexity 235\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly State Formation 240\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Big States 245\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Emergence of Moral Religions 247\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy and Complexity in State Societies 251\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe First Wave of Globalization 256\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndustrialization: The Second Wave of Globalization 264\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInformatization: The Third Wave of Globalization 271\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy, Complexity and Goldilocks Circumstances 276\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter Eight Facing the Future 295\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction 295\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Very Short Overview of the Long Future of the Universe 299\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Future of Earth and Life 300\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Future of Humanity 301\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Availability of Matter and Energy 304\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExhaustion of Critical Resources and Growing Entropy 309\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWill Humans Migrate to Other Planets? 311\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinal Words 313\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 318\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: History [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20%5BHB%5D%22\"\u003eHB\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52472145412376,"sku":"9781118881729","price":23.89,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781118881729.jpg?v=1785718830","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/big-history-and-the-future-of-humanity-paperback-softback-9781118881729","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}