The History of the World in 5 Minutes

Buckle up, because we're about to embark on a whirlwind tour through the history of our planet, from its fiery birth to the rise of humanity and beyond. Prepare to have your mind blown, all in the space of five minutes!

The Big Bang and the Rise of Earth (0:00 - 1:00)

It all started with the Big Bang, a moment of incredible energy that set our universe in motion, roughly 13.8 billion years ago. Over millions of years, swirling gas and dust coalesced, eventually forming our Sun and the planets of our solar system, including Earth.

• 4.5 Billion Years Ago: Earth forms.
• 3.8 Billion Years Ago: The first signs of life appear, single-celled organisms.
• 540 Million Years Ago: The Cambrian Explosion, a burst of biodiversity, brings forth a wide variety of complex life forms.

The Age of Dinosaurs (1:00 - 2:00)

Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for over 180 million years, leaving behind a legacy of colossal skeletons and a fascinating chapter in our planet's history.

• 252 Million Years Ago: The Permian-Triassic Extinction event, the largest mass extinction in Earth's history, clears the way for dinosaurs to flourish.
• 66 Million Years Ago: An asteroid impact brings the reign of the dinosaurs to a sudden end.

The Rise of Mammals (2:00 - 3:00)

With the dinosaurs gone, mammals, who had existed in the shadow of these giants, had the opportunity to diversify and evolve. This era gave rise to the ancestors of modern humans.

• 65 Million Years Ago: Mammals begin to dominate the Earth.
• 7 Million Years Ago: The first hominids, the lineage that led to humans, emerge in Africa.

The Story of Humanity (3:00 - 4:00)

Our species, Homo sapiens, evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago. We migrated across the globe, developing agriculture, language, and complex societies.

• 10,000 BC: The Agricultural Revolution transforms human societies, allowing for settled civilizations.
• 3000 BC: The first cities rise in Mesopotamia, marking the beginning of urban life.
• 500 BC: The Axial Age sees the emergence of major world religions and philosophies.

The Modern World (4:00 - 5:00)

The last 500 years have witnessed rapid technological advancement, globalization, and profound changes in human society. From the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration to the Industrial Revolution and the digital age, our world has been transformed at an unprecedented pace.

From the Big Bang to the present day, our history is a remarkable journey of evolution, discovery, and transformation. This five-minute tour has merely scratched the surface, but hopefully, it has sparked your curiosity to explore further and delve deeper into the fascinating tapestry of our past.