The document discusses how various inventions and discoveries throughout history have led to changes in human civilization and culture. It notes that in the 11th century, the Crusades led to the modern university system, and discoveries in art and recording technologies followed. It argues that humans are inherently driven to discover and invent due to their desire for change and variety, and that while new inventions often look to the past, they make improvements. The document also discusses how genetic studies have traced human migration patterns and relationships between different populations.

1. Big History By Killian Metzger

3. In the 11 th century, Christian Crusaders made a discovery that led to the modern university degree. In 1420, we discovered a new style of art. After the 1500s we found a way to record things without the use of song

4. In the 1700s we thought that the sky was made of crystal spheres, but we destroyed that idea. Shortly after this, we found a way to make things without much human toil. Soon after that, the French Revolution sparked the human desire to gamble

5. All these ideas and inventions led us to be the people we are today. For example, the typewriter gave birth to the modern computer, which we use daily

6. I thought it was a great example of human character that we always want to discover more, because humans are naturally driven by desire

8. I believe that our culture works well because we do not harbor our creative instincts by a harsh religion or a strict government. We always strive to make our lives different and better because we are fueled by the desire to change and have variety

9. Many of the inventions that we create now are just replicas of the old, but these either have better features or are more efficient. I found this very unique and interesting that even though we want change we usually look back at what we have come from

11. Long ago, our ancestors made a long journey across continents to discover the world. This task was seemingly impossible but through scientific study, we have found that they in fact accomplished this difficult journey

12. The scientist in this film explained to a tribe in Africa that DNA proves they were one of our closest links by blood. I found it very intriguing that he used the monkey orange to show them that they were related to our earliest ancestors. This made it easier for them to understand, because they deal with this fruit everyday

14. The narrator met people all across the globe. He studied races who lived in Europe, Australia, India and many other countries, to find how their DNA makeup differs from those of their African counterparts

15. I found it very interesting that there were still people who led the same lives their ancestors did. Theories state that this might be because people inherit the same instincts and defenses that make them perfect for their country. In one case, the people of Alaska and other cold countries are excellent at taming reindeer. They were also gifted with thicker skin. This characteristic was useful in the Ice Age because it gave them a resistance to the intense cold and blasting winds

17. In the middle of the 6 th century, there was a startling difference in tree ring size, almost as if during that time period there were extreme conditions. Mr. Keyes compared his research to other laboratories and found that all over the world scientists had gathered data showing the same growth pattern

18. During the three years in this century, when the world was freezing, tree growth was reduced to almost zero

19. Approximately during this time period, there was a dramatic sulfur spike. This gives evidence that there was a severe volcanic eruption

21. Tree rings also suggest that the plains of Mongol were struck with drought and horrible cold. This once very advanced tribe were crippled for over a decade. This brought about their defeat by the Turks, previously the Mongol's slaves

22. The Turks were able to defeat the Mongols easily because the Turk's prime source of income was cattle, who have strong digestive systems. The Mongol's horses, their prime source of wealth, had weaker digestive systems. The intense cold and horrible drought killed all the sensitive horses but spared the sturdy cattle

24. Many early people believed that the New Guineans were inferior by race, but scientific minds believe they live for much longer and have far superior learning abilities. They also work out a situation easily and skillfully.

25. I believe that rewards come for the people who deserve it and that people who blame things on others should be using this time to become better themselves

26. The nations who had more crops and animals had more resources to use for the advancement of their civilization. This is why some empires, such as China or America, are wealthier than others

28. The Spanish were one of the first to use guns to kill and to gain the upper hand in their foreign wars. This was terrifying to the Incas because for all they knew these invaders were killing them without a weapon

29. As many things that the Europeans use, such as guns and swords made of iron, every other nation cowered before their superior power. But many empires simply copied technologies from their neighbors

30. This was the reason that the Incas were so under advanced. They did not live next to anyone that they could base better technologies off of, and they did not even comprehend guns and iron swords. They also had little resistance to disease

32. Christopher Columbus was inspired by many countries and their cultures. When he came to America he tried to blend all of the greatest aspects of these places. So, in theory, America is just a mix of all the countries of the world

33. Christopher Columbus also visited Indonesia, where he was amazed by the wealth they obtained with spices, although the indigenous people didn't even realize it. Then, he visited China where he was fascinated by the technological advancements they had already made

35. The peoples of the Americas, or the Native Americans, still use their customs to this day. Remaining what they are, retaining their identity in contrast to us, who change often

36. But Christopher Columbus did give them horses, which inspired the Native Americans to practice their art in more detail. The horses minimized the time they needed to hunt, which in turn allowed more time to build their culture

37. So, technically, we gave them much of what we had and we did change them, but after this they became very independent