What on Earth Happened? ... In Brief: The Planet, Life and People from the Big Bang to the Present DayHow old is the universe? When did life on earth begin? What happened to the dinosaurs? How was the moon created? How did ancient Chinese science shape the modern world? How did Islam trigger globalization? Are humans really superior to other living things? And how can you fit the complete history of the planet into one pocket-sized book? These are just some of the questions answered in Christopher Lloyd's acclaimed 13.7 billion year history - now in brief. In this thrill-ride across millennia and continents, the complete history of the planet comes to life: from the Earth's fiery birth to its near-obliteration in the Triassic period, and from the first signs of human life to the tentative future of a world with a burgeoning population and a global warming crisis. Covering a wide range of topics including astrophysics, zoology, and sociology, and complete with maps and illustrations, What on Earth Happened? ... In Brief is the endlessly entertaining story of the planet, life, and people. |
Contents
The Age of Plants and Trees | |
Oriental War and Peace | |
Natives and the Americas | |
European Conquest and Revolt | |
Acknowledgements | |
Common terms and phrases
Africa ancient animals army Ashoka Asia Aztec Battle became began believed biggest Britain called Central century China Chinese Christian climate change colonies creatures crops culture developed Dimetrodon dinosaurs discovered discovery disease dramatic early earth Egypt emerged Emperor enormous Europe Europe's European eventually everything evolved farming forces forests fossils global gods Greek grow Homo erectus Homo habilis Homo sapiens horses huge human civilizations hunting Ice Age imperial India insects Islamic King known land living things mammals man’s Mass Extinction massive metres Middle East military million years ago modern modern-day Muslim Natufian natural nature’s Neanderthals North America Olmecs oxygen Permian Mass Extinction Persian Placoderms plants plate population Qin Shi Huang rich river ruled rulers scientists seeds slaves Song Dynasty South Spain Spanish species spread Sumerian survive thanks thousands today’s trade trees walked wealth