Originally published on December 17, 2015 (Episode 43)
Introduction
Big History begins not with Mesopotamia or ancient China—not even with homo sapiens rubbing two twigs together to make fire, or eating an oyster. It begins with the Big Bang. To understand human history, argue Big Historians, you must first grasp the story of the entire universe.
With me to explain this sweeping perspective is Craig Benjamin, Associate Professor of History at Grand Valley State University and former president of the World History Society. A charter member of the International Big History Association, Benjamin is one of the first scholars to teach Big History in the classroom.
About the Guest
Craig Benjamin is Professor of History in the Frederik J. Meijer Honors College Grand Valley State University, and a leading scholar in the field if Big History.
For Further Investigation
David Christian, “The History of Our World in 18 Minutes” (TED Talk)
David Christian, Big History: Between Nothing and Everything
Listen & Discuss
What happens to history when you start with the Big Bang instead of in Mesopotamia? Is this science, history—or both? Or neither? If this conversation made you see history in a bigger way, share it with someone more interested in science than in history.
