Big History - From the Big Bang until Today

Instructor: Esther Quaedackers

Access provided by Academy of Technology

39,313 already enrolled

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.6

(252 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.6

(252 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

3 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Welcome to this Big History course! In this course, renowned scientists and scholars from the University of Amsterdam and beyond will take you on a journey from the Big Bang until today while addressing key questions in their fields. After completing this journey you will have developed a better understanding of how you and everything around you became the way they are today. You will also have gained an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that have helped shape the history of everything and how they wil help shape the future. Last but not least, you will have developed the skill to use this knowledge to put smaller subjects into a bigger perspective with the aid of the little big history approach, which can help you develop some new ideas on these smaller subjects.

What's included

4 videos

What's included

9 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review

9 videosTotal 80 minutes

Why do we think big history started with a Big Bang?15 minutes
What are the elementary particles our universe is made of?9 minutes
What are the fundamental forces that determine how our universe behaves?7 minutes
Is our Standard Model of elementary particles and fundamental forces complete?6 minutes
Why are massive stars so important to us?6 minutes
How do stars die?7 minutes
What does our cosmic neighbourhood look like?9 minutes
Does our Solar System have a history?7 minutes
What is underlying all of big history?9 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

A tour of cosmic history10 minutes
Little Big History Example Connections10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Cosmic history30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Practice little big history assignment 1120 minutes

What's included

10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review

10 videosTotal 89 minutes

How did life emerge on Earth?11 minutes
How did evolution lead to the incredible diversity of life we see around us?11 minutes
Why do species look the way they do and how are they all related?9 minutes
How did life develop on the early Earth?5 minutes
What happened on our planet during mass extinctions?8 minutes
Why has our Earth cooled over the past millions of years?8 minutes
How can understanding the evolution of the brain help us understand human history?8 minutes
How did brain evolution lead to the development of our consciousness?9 minutes
Can we understand the evolution of our species without the aid of sexual selection?7 minutes
Can we develop a theory of the biosphere?9 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

A tour of the history of Earth and life10 minutes
Little Big History Example Connections10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

The history of Earth and life30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Practice little big history assignment 2120 minutes

What's included

15 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review

15 videosTotal 139 minutes

Why did people start to farm?7 minutes
Can big history tell us something new about the emergence of agriculture?6 minutes
What is the use of religion in the history of our species?9 minutes
Why did states, writing and state religion emerge together?10 minutes
How are civilizations influenced by climate change?13 minutes
When did globalization begin and what did it mean to different people across the globe?8 minutes
How was life in Europe affected by early globalization?7 minutes
What made industrial production possible?9 minutes
What are the main consequences of the Industrial Revolution?10 minutes
What have been the consequences of the Industrial Revolution for our environment?9 minutes
How is our international financial system developing?10 minutes
How are financial institutions affecting society?6 minutes
How is artificial intelligence developing?9 minutes
How will artificial intelligence influence your future?5 minutes
Can we construct a theory of human history?14 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

A tour of human history10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Human history30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Practice little big history assignment 3120 minutes

What's included

2 videos1 peer review

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

4.8 (57 ratings)

Esther Quaedackers

1 Course39,313 learners

Offered by

University of Amsterdam

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Learner reviews

4.6

252 reviews

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Showing 3 of 252

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2020

A very good survey of the universe's history without getting too technical about it.

Reviewed on Oct 17, 2019

Nice idea if would be accepted. A universal Origin story for all humankind.

Reviewed on Oct 18, 2023

Excellent Course, It gives a comprehensive overview and one develops a good knowledge on the subject matter. The interactive nature of the course make learning fun and engaging.

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