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Series:   Elements in Historical Theory and Practice

A History of Big History

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2023

Ian Hesketh
Ian Hesketh
Affiliation:
University of Queensland

Summary

Big History is a seemingly novel approach that seeks to situate human history within a grand cosmic story of life. It claims to do so by uniting the historical sciences in order to construct a linear and accurate timeline of 'threshold moments' beginning with the Big Bang and ending with the present and future development of humanity itself. As well as examining the theory and practice of Big History, this Element considers Big History alongside previous largescale attempts to unite human and natural history, and includes comparative discussions of the practices of chronology, universal history, and the evolutionary epic.
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Keywords

Big Historyconsiliencethresholdsuniversal historychronology
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in Historical Theory and Practice
Online ISBN: 9781009036399
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 15 June 2023

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A History of Big History
  • Ian Hesketh, University of Queensland
  • Online ISBN: 9781009036399
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A History of Big History
  • Ian Hesketh, University of Queensland
  • Online ISBN: 9781009036399
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A History of Big History
  • Ian Hesketh, University of Queensland
  • Online ISBN: 9781009036399
Available formats
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