The Big History of Civilizations

Jericho and Anau are two of the world's oldest cities; their stories have much to say about the scope of human history; what makes these cities successful; how they differ from each other; introducing the concept and key themes of Big History.

Tracing the origins of the human species from the emergence of proto-humans to the rise of Homo sapiens, Professor Benjamin offers perspectives to show what makes the human species unique and why it has been able to flourish.

The Paleolithic Era is the longest time in human history; understanding this period is crucial for comprehending the human history that follows, including how family dynamics, migration patterns, climate change and more affect life in this era.

Debating why and how humanity transitions from foraging to agriculture; delving into the agricultural revolution; how some combination of climate change, population growth and human ingenuity leads to a revolution in human history.

The next major transition in human history is the rise of cities; introducing life in the early farm communities; Professor Benjamin investigates the origins of power; its relationship to the state; the abiding features of the world's early cities.

The Era of Agrarian Civilizations stretches nearly 5,000 years: teasing out the large-scale trends and patterns of this period, what leads to the growth of agrarian civilizations and the key barriers these civilizations face.

Gaining new insights into civilization by looking at the Sumerians of Mesopotamia; using techniques such as linguistics, genetics, archeology, climatology and more to see how this society unfolds; what lessons it has to offer today.

Surveying the rise and fall of empires in the 1,000 years after the collapse of the Sumerians; how laws and language barriers impact the Babylonians, the Hittites and the Assyrians; how the changing environment inevitably has the last word.

Diving into the world of Ancient Egypt during the time of the great pharaohs; how environmental circumstances led to Egyptian power; the work of modern-day geneticists, chemists and other scientists who are shedding new light on this civilization.

Ancient Egyptian society's social, economic and cultural achievements; Egyptian urban life and its system of trade, hieroglyphics and religion; ancient Egyptian society remains astonishing thanks to its heritage and influence.

The Mediterranean Sea plays a key role in the development of the ancient world; exploring four smaller cultures that have an enormous influence on subsequent history, particularly in the fields of trade and cultural exchange.

The Indus civilization emerges in South Asia; witnessing the development of one of the most advanced and intriguing civilizations of its time; touring two of its most important cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

Tracing the rise of Hinduism, Buddhism and other religious traditions in South Asia between 1500 and 500 B.C.E.; the political and social organizations of the subcontinent, from the Indo-Aryan settlements through the Mauryan Empire.

East Asia's geographic isolation allows for the development of unique ideas about government, society and the individual; Finding out about East Asian culture by exploring the rise and fall of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Following early East Asian history from the Warring States Period through the Qin and Han dynasties; examining many of Chinese culture's most important contributions to world history, including its legal codes and the invention of paper and printing.

Going inside the steppe environment to learn about the role militarized pastoral nomads play in world history; how these societies respond to climate pressures; how they influence neighboring civilizations; charting the rise of the horse.

The recently discovered Oxus civilization and the Persians reveal a number of key themes for Big History; the role of climate and geography; intensified social complexity; innovations in warfare and farming, and more.

Geography's role in a civilization's development; the Greek experiments in government drive much of their success; touring the ancient Greek city-states of Athens, Sparta and more; finding out how they are governed; how they deal with conflicts.

The Greeks create one of the richest and most influential cultures in human history; exploring major Greek thinkers; the big questions they tackle; gaining a new understanding not just of their world, but also to better understand humanity.

Sometimes, one individual shapes the course of human history; Alexander of Macedon is one of those people; his conquests reshape the ancient world; tremendous economic expansion; flourishing cities; advancements in science and art.

When Rome establishes itself as a republic, Roman conquests spread across the Mediterranean; reviewing some of Rome's great leaders from its beginning through the assassination of Julius Caesar and the reign of Octavian.

The story of Rome in the Augustan Golden Age; following it through the sack by the Visigoths; the literature and propaganda of the empire; examining the reign of some of Rome's most notorious rulers; a look at the emergence of Christianity.

Dynamic trade routes between the east and the west; Professor Benjamin focuses on the Han Dynasty's world of silks and spices; seeing how the less tangible exports like ideas, arts, religion and more are transmitted along the Silk Roads.

Between the third and sixth centuries, Afro-Eurasian civilization experience a crisis; near-universal economic contraction; employing Big History analysis to understand the different outcomes to these events; their influence on future history.

The expansion of the Islamic civilization plays a major role in the history of Afro-Eurasia; surveying the story of Islam from the life of Mohammed to the Islamic Golden Age; reviewing the pillars of the faith; the culture's impact on the world.

In the early 13th century, Mongol horsemen attempt to conquer the known world; they go on to create the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen; entering Mongol culture; looking at the conquests that lead to a little-known Pax Mongolia.

Shifting attention to the Americas; tracing the settlement of North America; investigating societies across different regions, from the southwestern deserts to the eastern woodlands; learning about tribes such as the Iroquois nations.

The unique geography of Mesoamerica drives the region's history over the millennia; reviewing the geologic formations and plate tectonics that create Mesoamerica; turning to its many cultures, including the Olmecs, the Mayans and the Aztecs.

A journey down the Andean spine and up the Amazon River to discover the many civilizations of South America, such as the Nazcans; touring archeological sites; considering the Big History of the Americas compared to Afro-Eurasia.

Sub-Saharan Africa is often overlooked by outside historians; certain nations and the Bantu and Swahili civilizations have a rich history; surveying the story of Africa; a special focus on sub-Saharan geography, people and civilizations.

The last great chapter in humanity's colonization of the globe; seafaring technologies allow Polynesian societies to flourish; studying the aboriginal people of Australia and New Zealand; learning about chiefdoms in Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and more.

Surveying the "Malthusian Cycle" of expansion; favorable climate, global population growth, expanding exchange networks and rapid innovation pave the way for modernity; European mercantilism; global exploration; the period's scientific achievements.

Zooming in on an obscure corner of Europe in the 18th century; why Britain is in such a good position to become a global powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution; the railroads alter the landscape of countries around the world.

The 20th and 21st centuries wreak astonishing changes in the history of human civilization and the story of the planet; how nationalism, global capitalism, technological advancements and rapid population growth transform the world.

Seeing what might be in store for humanity in the near future; whether humans will run out of oil; adapting to a changing climate; how population growth will affect energy consumption; considering a variety of scenarios for the year 2100.

Reflecting on future possibilities by drawing from the work of futurists and science fiction writers; where human civilization might go; what might happen to humans along the way on the planet or in the universe.