The document discusses several topics related to human history and development: 1) James Burke explains that human perception shapes our understanding of the world and that changing perception allows us to change the world. 2) Spencer Wells traces human migration across the globe by tracking DNA markers left in different populations, tracing modern humans back to Africa around 50,000 years ago. 3) Environmental catastrophes like volcanic eruptions can dramatically impact climate and facilitate events like the spread of disease, as seen with the 6th century eruption of Krakatoa and the onset of bubonic plague in Europe. 4) Jared Diamond examines why some societies developed advanced civilizations while others did not, finding that

1. BIG HISTORY Ashley Rubio HIST 140

2. The Day the Universe Changed We as a society choose to believe that the “best way is our way” James Burke, Science Historian, explains that we make of the world around us by what we perceive therefore, if we chance our perception we have the power to change the world itself.

3. The Day the Universe Changed Cont. Through experimentation and creation we self perpetuate growth as a species and society. Physical ways we perpetuate growth is through invention. We make new things to solve old problems. Burke also follows different civilizations who harness different specialties for growth. (i.e. Egyptians and geometry)

4. Journey of Man Spencer Wells , a geneticist and anthropologist seeks to find the connection between every human being in the world. With guidance of his mentor Lucca Cavalli-Sforza, Wells takes the journey following man's migration across the globe linking each stop by a drop of blood. Wells links the origin of human man back 50, 000 years to Africa. By linking the DNA within the Y chromosome in regions around the world, Wells can pinpoint and mark the positions of human migration through time.

5. Journey of Man Cont. Wells has linked the earliest origin of man to a small San Bushman tribe in western/southern Africa. From this point migration would split. First half stayed relatively close but shifting south along the coastal area of the Indian Ocean. The second would shift north near central Asia and disperse. All along these groups would repopulate passing on the DNA leaving markers for the future to follow.

6. An event that brought the us from the Ancient World to the Medieval Era. David Keys uses the reading tree rings to break down what environmental catastrophes occurred over time and the effects they had of the world. Catastrophe!

7. Catastrophe! Cont. The eruption of Krakatoa during the 6th century leveled the Earth around it while altering the earth’s weather dramatically. The change in temperature then took an active role in the onset of Bubonic plague wiping out large regions of Europe.

8. Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared Diamond seeks to find the answer: “Why does white man carry so much cargo, when why people do not?” Diamond breaks down through time to find out why there are some societies who have been able to thrive over their generation while some have et to make the same or any advances.

9. Guns, Germs, and Steel Cont. Most believe that most societies living like those of Papua New Guinea, do so because they are inferior to races and society like our own. HOWEVER, Diamond finds that over time it’s not what you can do it’s what you HAVE. Areas like the Fertile Crescent were able to develop and thrive because of the success in proactive crops like wheat whereas, in New Guinea long term and more substantial crop were not sustainable. The consequences of lacking sustainable nutrition create a domino effect for key parts of a developing society. The most productive crops fuel the most productive society. Eurasia was successful in development because they were able to sustain crops like rice and which aided in the ability to domesticate animals to further provide society.

10. The World and Trade As societies began to develop healthy competition and reliance on one and other added in perpetuating the rate of progress. Since the voyage of Columbus there has been this idea of world trade where influences of the outside span borders. Coming to the New World came stable to build, such as corn, wheat, sugar, and cattle.

11. The World and Trade Cont. Wheat became a staple worldwide. Asian countries like China the paper and silk markets. Spices were a valued commodity because they were few and far between and were more difficult to produce. For Ireland's case if was more detrimental to have had a monopoly on one single good. Potatoes were economically and readily available due to there versatility. However, there cause of famine wiped out most of population.