Introduction
The Big History offers an interesting outlook on how historical events can be reviewed and analyzed. This approach encourages one to adopt a different perspective and use multidisciplinary methods, as well as varying levels of analysis to examine events. One can use the example of coffee and trace its link with the Dutch Indian Company to understand why it is a popular drink today, how it affected the popularity of sugar and the term “coffee break” as one example of Big History. This paper will analyze book chapters by Turchin and Mann and films to illustrate the Big History approach.
Thoughts on Big History
Big History allows one to review historical facts from a different perspective by tracing the origins of different events, such as the formation of empires and their impact on society’s development. The most significant element of the Big History is the way this approach allows us to make connections between different events, for example, the adoption of the Atlantic culture by other nations, and see how this led to the culture that people have today. Moreover, it is intriguing since Big History encourages the use of other disciplines, such as biology or geography, and their application of them to the examination of events. A prominent example of this is the volcanic eruption and the specific characteristics of the Earth’s atmosphere that led to two years without sunlight.
Sources
The following sources offer varied approaches to the Big History and the establishment of empires. Mann explores America’s development beginning with the Columbus settling in the La Isabella community (3). The author shows how the Europeans’ explorations of the world affected economic development and social exchange. For example, in the first chapter, Mann explains that Columbus had to convince the Spanish monarchs to participate in a sea expedition since the idea was unpopular at that time (6). From a modern-day perspective, it is fascinating that the events leading to the exploration of America and the exchange of goods and migration of millions of people could not happen if these monarchs would refuse to support Columbus.
Turchin provides several examples of the elements needed to build an empire. For example, the author begins the first chapter by explaining how the Russian Cossacks invaded the Irtysh as a result of Tsar Ivan’s ambition to have control over the Ural Mountains territory (17). In this and subsequent chapters, Turnich argues that social coercion is the main factor that contributes to the establishment of the empire, although one should note that this process is complex and requires the inclusion of other elements as well.
Interestingly, Turchin draws a parallel between the Tsar’s use of Cossacks and the Cortes’ use of conquistadors in their attempts to gain control over territories (21). One explanation for the success of both conquests is that in both cases, skilled warriors who possessed guns and other weapons fought against the natives who had little advanced armor. Hence, they had an advantage in terms of technology and could defeat the native inhabitants easily.
“Big History of Coffee” offers an outlook on the different levels at which a person can examine events. More specifically, this source discusses coffee, a drink that many people choose daily. As the narrator explains, a person using the Big History approach would ask questions such as when and how people began to drink coffee and would find answers, such as the Dutch East India company smuggling coffee beans since these were perceived as a commodity (“Big History of Coffee”). Going further, the Big History approach encourages people to explore this question further and look at agriculture and the formation of Earth to examine how the coffee beans begin to grow and why. Next, “Salt” and “Brain Boost” have a similar focus to “Big History Coffee” because they explore how the products popular today were discovered and how their use is linked to explorations and discoveries (Goldin).
The two parts of the “Catastrophe!” film explore the year 535 A.D. when a climatic event affected the Earth and led to two consecutive years of darkness (Robinson). Not having the sun inevitably affected the growth of plans and the ability of humans and animals to feed themselves. From a Big History perspective, this major event could not have affected humans, who had to invent new ways to survive, such as finding different types of foods. This movie shows examples of how the lack of sunlight has caused the Plague of Justinian, the migration of the Mongolian tribes, and the rise of Islam, among other events, all of which had a major impact on society today. Moreover, from a Big History perspective, it is interesting to look at the causes of this catastrophe, which are attributed to a volcanic eruption. Hence, this film shows a link between a major natural disaster and the effect it had on the development of tribes and nations.
The First Eden, “The Wastes of War,” addresses the Big History question by showing how the Atlantic culture has absorbed the majority of the Mediterranean culture’s elements relating to crops and food consumption habits. The former, in its term, affected the development of the cultures in America and Australia. Moreover, social order elements, such as monotheistic religious practices or preference toward urbanism, also trace their origins to the Atlantic culture. Hence, this film helps one understand how the cultures of particular nations are linked to those of the Ancient world and which factors impacted their development.
“Columbus’s World” and “The Columbian Exchange” address the topic of European exploration of the world and how it affected modern History (“Christopher Columbus”; “Columbian Exchange”). For example, this exploration has led to an exchange between the Old World and the American continents, and the transfer concerned not only people but also plants, technology, and other elements. Inevitably, this affected the development of the nations in America and led to these states’ formation and evolution. For example, the Europeans have brought diseases that the Indigenous people have never encountered. Hence, they had no immunity against them. One effect of this was a significant reduction of the indigenous populations. Hence, adopting the Big History approach, one can conclude that the explorations of the Europeans have caused substantial changes in the way the nations in America lived and developed.
Conclusion
Overall, this paper explores the theory of Big History and addresses several films and book chapters using this perspective. Big History allows examining different historical events from a different level of analysis. For example, the widespread popularity of coffee in the modern world is linked to its discovery of it by the Dutch Indian Company. This company viewed coffee as a commodity and began planting it in different parts of the world, although previously, it has been grown only in Ethiopia. This is only one example of how all events are linked and how they have impacted modern society and its values or traditions.
Works Cited
“Big History of Coffee.” Youtube, uploaded by Bill Gates, 2015.
Goldin, Games, director. “Salt” and “Brain Boost”. H2, 2013
“Christopher Columbus.” History, 2021.
“Columbian Exchange.” Wikipedia, 2015.
Mann, Charles. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created. Knopf, 2011.
Robinson, Tony, presenter. “Catastrophe.” Channel 4, 2008.
Turchin, Peter. War and Peace and War: The Rise and Fall of Empires. Penguin Books, 2006.
“Wastes of War.” IMDb, 2021.