Big History
Big History is a unique course that looks at the history of the entire Universe, stretching 13.8 billion years into the past and all the way into the future. You’ll travel to the earliest stars, discover new chemical elements, investigate the Earth’s fiery origins, explore how life on Earth evolved, and journey through human history to see what the future may hold.
Interested in our lifelong learner course? Head over to the Big History public site.
Featured Materials
What Makes Big History…BIG?

Article
What Makes Big History…BIG?
Compared to the Universe, you’re very small. Compared to other living things, you’re huge and incredibly complex. Knowing this, how does learning Big History help us understand the past, present, and future?
The Thresholds: Big History

Article
The Thresholds: Big History
Big History is organized around eight thresholds of increasing complexity. Let’s explore how each of these thresholds connects to you.
The Big Bang

Video
The Big Bang
We may not know everything about the Big Bang, but there’s a lot we do know. Our knowledge of the Universe begins just a fraction of a second after the Big Bang took place.
Lessons

Lesson 1.1
Welcome to Big History
This isn’t your average social studies course. Big History explores the history of the Universe, Earth, life, and humanity, and how you fit into that history.
View Lesson

Lesson 3.4
Extinction Events
The dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago. Could you survive an extinction event? Time to use your Big History knowledge to put together a survival plan—and consider if we should bring some dinosaurs back to life!
Materials
Egypt

Video
Egypt
You probably know about the pyramids and mummies of ancient Egypt, but did you know that its success has a lot to do with geography?
Han Dynasty China

Article
Han Dynasty China
The history of China’s dynasties extends for more than 3,500 years. How did the Han Dynasty become so powerful but ultimately fall?
Trade Game

Activity
Trade Game
Collect points based on how much you can trade—but be careful, there might be a few trade obstacles to overcome.
Lessons

Lesson 5.3
Complex Societies Appear
Growing food in fixed locations enabled people who once migrated with the seasons to settle down. Soon, complexity increased as villages turned into cities and states.
View Lesson

Lesson 7.3
Space
Today, we’re all hurtling through space on a giant rock we call Earth. Will future humans journey to another planet and call that home?
Materials
"Unknowns" Podcast Episode 3 Clip

Video
"Unknowns" Podcast Episode 3 Clip
Listen in as paleontologist Michael Archer and David Christian, founder of Big History, discuss the connection between geography and the evolution of life on Earth.
Human Evolution: Our Many Ancestors

Article
Human Evolution: Our Many Ancestors
Walking on two feet, communicating with language, and learning collectively are all factors that led to increased complexity.
Global Restaurant

Activity
Global Restaurant
Have you ever wondered how far your food travels before it gets to your plate? Use some math skills to calculate those distances.