History typically begins with the creation of written records by one particular culture, generally agreed to be with Mesopotamian or Egyptian Sumerians around 2900 BCE.
History provides more than just facts: it teaches us how to think and see the world differently.
The Big Bang
Studies and experiments have demonstrated that our universe began in an unbearably hot and dense region – an event known as the Big Bang by cosmologists.
What happened next was unlike anything we can experience today: in just a fraction of a second, the Universe began expanding and cooling, eventually coalescing into protons and neutrons which form the nuclei of atoms today.
The Sumerians
The Sumerians began civilization on the fertile banks of Mesopotamia. Seeking order, they developed towns, cities and written records – thus setting an important precedent.
Priest-kings organized work groups to cultivate barley, wheat and other crops. Additionally, they created the phalanx military formation and standardised law and government.
Sumerians left behind an immense legacy, including an early version of the Great Flood legend and biblical Tower of Babel, as well as being amongst the first peoples to record history using cuneiform records.
The Egyptians
Ancient Egyptian village communities flourished along a fertile strip of land along the Nile, led by powerful rulers known as Pharaohs.
Egypt was first united under Menes in the 3rd millennium bc and his successors followed suit in creating pyramids and engaging in active foreign policy; even creating the first 365-day calendar! Additionally, written records began being kept that listed property ownership details as well as details regarding rulers.
The Greeks
At the risk of sounding repetitive, history was first studied as an academic subject by the Greeks. Before them there had been cuneiform king lists and annals written down but without analysis being involved.
Greek society developed into an elaborate network of city-states known as polis. Male citizens enjoyed legal status and ownership rights to property; additionally they could form relationships with noncitizens such as foreign immigrants and slaves.
The Romans
Mesopotamia may have seen civilization emerge as early as 3500 BCE; however, Rome only achieved status as an independent city-state during the eighth century BCE.
Archaeologists have unearthed many cuneiform documents which contain legal, religious, accounting and annal data as well as annals and king lists.
Herodotus (484 BC – 425 BC) and Sima Qian were pioneers of historical analysis. Both believed history should be corroborated with evidence-based arguments.
The Middle Ages
By the fourteenth century, towns were becoming larger and a new generation of scholars had emerged; however, most were concentrated in central European regions.
Petrarch famously described this period as the Dark Ages; literary descendants used different terms such as medius antiquis, medius aevum and media tempora which later evolved into modern versions of “Middle Ages.” A period marked by expansion, centralization and considerable violence.
The Renaissance
In the 14th and 15th centuries, an important precursor of Renaissance was found: rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy. Additionally, this period witnessed major scientific breakthroughs like Copernicus’ heliocentric theory which put our sun at its core rather than Earth.
Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Shakespeare emerged during this time of great change and innovation.
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement which advocated rational questioning, critical thinking, religious toleration, political liberty and hope for human progress. Critics have charged it with shallow rationalism, unrealistic optimism and unrealistic universalism.
Enlightenment philosophy often criticizes religion, yet tends to attack only certain contingent aspects such as superstition, enthusiasm and fanaticism rather than religion itself.
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain during the 1760s, driven by new technical devices–such as spinning jennys, cotton gins, and power looms–that met growing consumer demands.
People desired manufactured consumer goods and needed something other than wood for cooking and heating purposes. The steam engine powered pumps in mines and allowed mechanized factories to replace cottage industries; in turn, this revolution increased urbanization.
The Age of Discovery
From 14th to 17th century Europe witnessed widespread overseas exploration as an increasingly powerful force. Religious, cultural, and economic interests all combined with a search for new trade routes drove this transformative period of European history.
Christopher Columbus’ voyages opened up new worlds and altered our maps, but also saw widespread enslavement and exploitation of native populations as well as introduction of communicable diseases into Europe.
