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History of the Universe Timeline
(13.8 billion years ago – Present)Early precursors
Heraclitus claims that all things change
500 BC - 499 BC
Ancient Greek philosophers in the fifth century BCE, most notably Heraclitus, are celebrated for their reasoned claims that all things change, an idea foundational to evolutionary and cosmic perspectives on history.
Image source: Heraclitus
Giordano Bruno's early works as precedents to Big History
1500 - 1599
Numerous precedents for Big History go back to the 1500s with Giordano Bruno's works, especially Lo spaccio della besta trionfante (1584), which offered broad cosmic perspectives that anticipated later attempts to unify all of history.
Image source: Big History
Robert Chambers publishes Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation
1844
Robert Chambers' 1844 book Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation was seen as an early precursor to Big History, offering a sweeping account of cosmic evolution.
Image source: Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation
Alexander von Humboldt publishes Cosmos
1845
In the mid-19th century, Alexander von Humboldt's book Cosmos was seen as an early precursor to the field of Big History, synthesizing knowledge about the natural universe.
Image source: Cosmos (Humboldt book)
Early modern speculation about cosmic evolution begins
1900
Early modern speculation about cosmic evolution began more than a century ago, including the broad insights of Robert Chambers, Herbert Spencer, Charles Sanders Peirce, and Lawrence Henderson.
Image source: Chronology of the universe
Julian Huxley originates 'evolutionary humanism'
1930
In the first half of the 20th century, secular biologist Julian Huxley originated the term 'evolutionary humanism', linking evolution to broader views of humanity's place in the cosmos.
Image source: Julian Huxley
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin examines cosmic evolution and complexification
1930
Around the same time, the French Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin examined links between cosmic evolution and a tendency towards complexification, including human consciousness, envisaging compatibility between cosmology, evolution, and theology.
Image source: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
20th century development
Harlow Shapley popularizes cosmic evolution
1950
Harlow Shapley widely articulated the idea of cosmic evolution (often calling it 'cosmography') in public venues at mid-century, helping bring the concept to a broad audience.
Image source: Harlow Shapley
Cosmic evolution articulated as a research paradigm
1950
Only in the mid-20th century was the cosmic-evolutionary scenario articulated as a research paradigm to include empirical studies of galaxies, stars, planets, and life—an expansive agenda combining physical, biological, and cultural evolution.
Earthrise photo taken during Apollo 8 lunar orbit
Dec 24, 1968
One account suggested that the notable Earthrise photo, taken by William Anders during a lunar orbit aboard Apollo 8, showing Earth as a small blue and white ball behind a stark lunar landscape, not only stimulated the environmental movement but also caused an upsurge of interdisciplinary interest.
Image source: Earthrise
Key Facts
- The universe began with the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago, expanding rapidly from an extremely hot, dense state in a period known as cosmic inflation.
- Approximately 380,000 years after the Big Bang, protons and electrons combined to form neutral hydrogen atoms during an era called recombination, releasing the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation we can still detect today.
- The first stars, known as Population III stars, ignited a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, ending the cosmically 'dark ages' and beginning the era of reionization.
- Our solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a cloud of gas and dust enriched by elements forged inside earlier generations of stars.
- Observations show that the universe's expansion is accelerating due to mysterious dark energy, which makes up roughly 68% of the universe's total energy content.
Source
This History of the Universe timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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