2019 UvA Big History Course
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Introduction
Would you like to know how everything around you has become the way it is today? How the histories of the cosmos, life, Earth and human societies have influenced each other and have jointly shaped important aspects of the world you live in now? And would you like to use that knowledge to develop a better understanding of the challenges our societies are currently facing? If you do, then the big history course is right for you. In this course, a variety of renowned experts, ranging from astrophysicists to social scientists, will take you on a journey that covers all of history, from the Big Bang until today. State-of-the-art reading will explain what drove this history. In online assignments you will be stimulated to reflect on the often-unexplored connections between the various astrophysical, geological, biological and cultural aspects that shaped our world. And in a final research assignment, you will be encouraged to apply this knowledge to an important societal challenge and think about this in a creative and interdisciplinary way. While doing so, you will also reflect on what big history might mean for your future.
Practical information
Credits 6 EC Language English Classes February to May 2019 from 15:00 to 16:45 Location See Datanose Registration UvA students must register through SIS. The registration period starts on 4 December and ends one week prior to the start of the course. The required study guide number is 5512BIHI6Y. Contract students and students from other institutions can enroll through Datanose. |
Preliminary Program
Tuesday 5 February What is big history? Tuesday 12 February How did the universe originate? Tuesday 19 February How do stars create the elements? Tuesday 26 February How do planetary systems form? Tuesday 5 March How did the Earth from and develop? Tuesday 12 March How did life on Earth originate? Tuesday 19 March How did life on Earth develop? Tuesday 2 April How did we become human? Tuesday 9 April How has climate change influenced history? Tuesday 16 April Why did we invent agriculture? Tuesday 23 April Why do we live in states? Tuesday 30 April How did the world get connected? Tuesday 7 May How is industry and information technology changing the world? Tuesday 14 May What can big history tell us about the future? |
