Instructions For History Essay: Thoughts on Big History Approaches to Big History in Europe, the Americas, and Asia Sources Readings Peter Turchin. War and Peace and War: The Rise and Fall of Empires. Select chapters posted in Canvas site. Charles C. Mann. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created. Select chapters of your choice. Films “Big History of Coffee”. “Salt” and “Brain Boost”. “Catastrophe!” (2 parts) The First Eden. “The Wastes of War”. “Columbus’s World”. “The Columbian Exchange”. Topic for your essay Write an essay of 3-4 pages, typed and double-spaced, that discusses how these sources provide examples of a “big history” approach to the history of empires and of the Americas. Obviously you will condense this information when given only 4-5 pages. Perhaps you will only give a few sentences to one source, and several paragraphs to another. For the study of War and Peace and War, summarize in 2-3 paragraphs the examples given by the author for necessary preconditions of empire building throughout history. From Mann’s 1493, provide examples of economic trade and social exchanges brought about by the European explorations. From the films, provide short examples from each source of evidence of the “big history” approach to the past. It is quite an interesting story, the birth and evolution of these Americas – and yes, quite painful. What stands out as most significant to you? There is no one “correct” answer. What stories did you find most interesting? Why? Make this paper your POV – point of view. Your interpretation. Resources For Essay: 1. What Is “Big History”? This module contains web sites and films that discuss the evolving concept of “Big History”. This approach to history goes beyond the traditional focus on national and political histories, such as the U.S. Survey, and integrates investigations of the past that utilize many different academic disciplines. And it all begins with the “Big Bang”. This area includes the short films “Wake Up: The Big History of Coffee”, “The Super Power of Salt”, and “Brain Boost”. Also included are web links, including the site for the Big History Project. Some Links: (You can copy and paste in order to view sources) https://youtu.be/g4abDxi5s3g “Wake Up: The Big History of coffee” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_History https://www.oerproject.com/BHP-Has-Moved https://www.openculture.com/2013/05/iblack_coffeei_documentary_covers_the_history_politics_economics_of_the_most_widely_taken_legal_drug.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDGNnGmNMEI 2. TEXT Turchin, War and Peace and War This text by Peter Turchin, War and Peace and War: The Rise and Fall of Empires (2007), explores the topic of how empires come into existence, which is a political approach to the themes of Big History: Empires are generally the means by which Big History can be analyzed across time and space. Included below are several chapters which give you an introduction to Turchin’s work, which is quite extensive on this topic. 3. So what is the “Catastrophe”? More provocative History – from an English journalist and documentary producer named David Keys (). While David Keys is not a professional, academic historian, he has compiled evidence from a great many different sources, including scientists and historians, to propose a bold hypothesis. He has taken an intellectual leap to propose a new awareness of global history. So what happened here, and what were the consequences for human history? How many different scientific disciplines does Mr. Keys turn to for answers to his questions? One theme that will remain with us for most of this course is the influence of disease upon history, so pay attention in particular to the significance of the plague in this story. Why is this an important topic to consider today in our time? This web site at WIKIPEDIA on “Extreme Weather events of 535-536” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_weather_events_of_535%E2%80%93536 explores some of these issues Part 1 https://youtu.be/XpmauuMrQQU Part 2 https://youtu.be/t7Xi3M8xoCQ 3. First Eden: FILM and Outline https://www.slideshare.net/GauchoMike/2018-first-eden 5. FILMS How Columbus and others Changed the World From the film series Columbus and the Age of Discovery.This film series about Columbus and his times was stimulated by the 500th anniversary of 1492 – in 1992. Since this time, quite a bit of research has been completed that expands our understanding of the economic and political forces that led to European expansion and invasions of the rest of the world. The introduction to the series presents more complex view of the age in which Columbus lived. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_exchange https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus