"Compact edition of the first fully integrated visual reference on Big History for general readers. Discover how we got to where we are, in this multidisciplinary approach to 13.8 billion years of human and cosmic history. With the Big Bang as its starting point, Big History places humans in the context of our Universe, revealing how and why we got to where we are today. From the formation of our Universe and the dawn of time to the present day, a series of major events has changed the nature and course of life on the planet we call home. With trademark clarity, DK unites ideas and concepts of multiple disciplines, from physics to sociology, to create a visual account of 13.8 billion years of history. By taking us right back to our origins in the stars, and exploring how a unique series of events led to and then impacted human existence, Big History gives us a deeper understanding of the world we live in now"--Publisher's description.