TED2011
David Christian: The history of our world in 18 minutes
大卫·克里斯汀：宏观历史
Filmed:
Readability: 4.7
10,836,002 views
在震撼的背景插图下，大卫·克里斯汀讲述了宇宙的完整历史，从大爆炸到互联网，非常精彩的18分钟。这是“宏观的历史”：一个启发性的，广角的关注复杂性，生命和人类，不同于我们以往的浅薄的有关宇宙时间的认识。
David Christian - Historian
David Christian teaches an ambitious world history course that tells the tale of the entire universe -- from the Big Bang 13 billion years ago to present day. Full bio
David Christian teaches an ambitious world history course that tells the tale of the entire universe -- from the Big Bang 13 billion years ago to present day. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:15
First, a video.
0
0
3000
首先，来段录像。
00:24
(Video) Yes, it is a scrambled egg.
1
9000
3000
对，这是个被搅拌的鸡蛋。
00:28
But as you look at it,
2
13000
2000
但是，当你看它的时候，
00:30
I hope you'll begin to feel
3
15000
2000
我希望你能开始感受到
00:32
just slightly uneasy.
4
17000
3000
有一点点的怪异。
00:36
Because you may notice that what's actually happening
5
21000
3000
因为你可能注意到了正在发生的
00:39
is that the egg is unscrambling itself.
6
24000
3000
是这个鸡蛋搅拌的反序过程。
00:42
And you'll now see the yolk and the white have separated.
7
27000
2000
并且你可以看到蛋黄和蛋白分开了。
00:44
And now they're going to be poured back into the egg.
8
29000
3000
现在它们将返回到蛋壳中。
00:47
And we all know in our heart of hearts
9
32000
3000
并且我们内心深处都知道
00:50
that this is not the way the universe works.
10
35000
3000
这不是宇宙的运行方式。
00:54
A scrambled egg is mush -- tasty mush -- but it's mush.
11
39000
3000
一个被搅拌的鸡蛋是糊状的，好吃的糊状，但是它是糊状的。
00:57
An egg is a beautiful, sophisticated thing
12
42000
3000
鸡蛋是一个美丽而复杂的东西
01:00
that can create even more sophisticated things,
13
45000
2000
它能创造出更加复杂的东西，
01:02
such as chickens.
14
47000
2000
比如说小鸡。
01:04
And we know in our heart of hearts
15
49000
2000
并且我们内心深处知道
01:06
that the universe does not travel
16
51000
2000
宇宙形成并不仅仅是
01:08
from mush to complexity.
17
53000
2000
从混沌到复杂的跨度。
01:10
In fact, this gut instinct
18
55000
2000
实际上，这宇宙形成感觉上
01:12
is reflected in one of the most fundamental laws of physics,
19
57000
3000
是受一种最基本的物理学原理的影响，
01:15
the second law of thermodynamics, or the law of entropy.
20
60000
3000
热力学第二定律，又称熵定律。
01:18
What that says basically
21
63000
2000
它主要阐述了
01:20
is that the general tendency of the universe
22
65000
3000
宇宙的总体趋势
01:23
is to move from order
23
68000
2000
是从有序的
01:25
and structure
24
70000
2000
有架构的
01:27
to lack of order, lack of structure --
25
72000
2000
到无序的，无架构的--
01:29
in fact, to mush.
26
74000
2000
事实上，相对于混沌。
01:31
And that's why that video
27
76000
2000
也是为什么这段录像
01:33
feels a bit strange.
28
78000
2000
感觉有一点点奇怪。
01:35
And yet,
29
80000
2000
然而
01:37
look around us.
30
82000
2000
看看我们周遭。
01:39
What we see around us
31
84000
2000
我们周遭所见的
01:41
is staggering complexity.
32
86000
2000
是那么惊人的复杂。
01:43
Eric Beinhocker estimates that in New York City alone,
33
88000
3000
艾瑞克·比因霍克估计光纽约一个城市
01:46
there are some 10 billion SKUs, or distinct commodities, being traded.
34
91000
4000
就有100亿的不同货物正在被交易。
01:50
That's hundreds of times as many species
35
95000
3000
这比
01:53
as there are on Earth.
36
98000
2000
现存于地球上的物种数量要多成百倍。
01:55
And they're being traded by a species
37
100000
2000
而且，它们是由一种
01:57
of almost seven billion individuals,
38
102000
2000
近七十亿个体
01:59
who are linked by trade, travel, and the Internet
39
104000
3000
以交易，游历和网络相互联系
02:02
into a global system
40
107000
2000
到一个
02:04
of stupendous complexity.
41
109000
3000
极其庞大复杂的全球体系交易。
02:07
So here's a great puzzle:
42
112000
2000
所以，这就是个大谜团：
02:09
in a universe
43
114000
2000
在宇宙中
02:11
ruled by the second law of thermodynamics,
44
116000
3000
在被热力学第二定律规范下，
02:14
how is it possible
45
119000
2000
怎么样才有可能
02:16
to generate the sort of complexity I've described,
46
121000
3000
产生这种我刚才论述的那种复杂性--
02:19
the sort of complexity represented by you and me
47
124000
3000
那种你，我
02:22
and the convention center?
48
127000
3000
和这个演讲厅所呈现的复杂性？
02:25
Well, the answer seems to be,
49
130000
3000
这答案似乎是，
02:28
the universe can create complexity,
50
133000
3000
宇宙本生能创造复杂性，
02:31
but with great difficulty.
51
136000
2000
但是有极大的困难。
02:33
In pockets,
52
138000
2000
总的来说，
02:35
there appear what my colleague, Fred Spier,
53
140000
2000
这种情况会发生，用我同事，弗雷德·施皮尔的
02:37
calls "Goldilocks conditions" --
54
142000
2000
说法“黄金条件”--
02:39
not too hot, not too cold,
55
144000
2000
不太热，不太冷；
02:41
just right for the creation of complexity.
56
146000
3000
就那么刚刚好能创造复杂性。
02:44
And slightly more complex things appear.
57
149000
2000
同时一些更加复杂的事情发生了。
02:46
And where you have slightly more complex things,
58
151000
2000
就在那一点发生更加复杂的事，
02:48
you can get slightly more complex things.
59
153000
2000
你可能发现更加复杂的东西。
02:50
And in this way, complexity builds
60
155000
3000
就这样，复杂性就这样形成了
02:53
stage by stage.
61
158000
2000
一步一步的。
02:55
Each stage is magical
62
160000
3000
每个阶段都是奇迹
02:58
because it creates the impression of something utterly new
63
163000
3000
因为它创造出了完全新的东西
03:01
appearing almost out of nowhere in the universe.
64
166000
3000
出现在几乎什么都没有的宇宙中。
03:04
We refer in big history to these moments
65
169000
2000
这个瞬间我们将标记为宏观历史中
03:06
as threshold moments.
66
171000
2000
的起始瞬间。
03:08
And at each threshold,
67
173000
2000
在这些起始点，
03:10
the going gets tougher.
68
175000
2000
条件将更加苛刻。
03:12
The complex things get more fragile,
69
177000
3000
复杂的东西变得更弱小，
03:15
more vulnerable;
70
180000
2000
更脆弱。
03:17
the Goldilocks conditions get more stringent,
71
182000
3000
黄金条件变的更苛刻，
03:20
and it's more difficult
72
185000
2000
而且条件会变的更难
03:22
to create complexity.
73
187000
2000
来创造复杂性。
03:24
Now, we, as extremely complex creatures,
74
189000
3000
现实中我们是极度复杂的个体
03:27
desperately need to know this story
75
192000
3000
渴望了解这个
03:30
of how the universe creates complexity
76
195000
2000
关于宇宙怎么创造复杂性的故事，
03:32
despite the second law,
77
197000
2000
不管那个第二法则，
03:34
and why complexity
78
199000
2000
以及为什么复杂性
03:36
means vulnerability
79
201000
2000
意味着脆弱
03:38
and fragility.
80
203000
2000
和弱小。
03:40
And that's the story that we tell in big history.
81
205000
3000
我们讲的历史这件事就是这个故事。
03:43
But to do it, you have do something
82
208000
2000
但是开始前，你必须做一些事
03:45
that may, at first sight, seem completely impossible.
83
210000
2000
那些可能第一眼看起来完全不可能的事。
03:47
You have to survey the whole history of the universe.
84
212000
4000
你必须纵观整个宇宙的历史。
03:52
So let's do it.
85
217000
2000
那，让我们开始吧。
03:54
(Laughter)
86
219000
2000
（笑声）
03:56
Let's begin by winding the timeline back
87
221000
3000
让我们开始追溯到过去
03:59
13.7 billion years,
88
224000
3000
137亿年前
04:02
to the beginning of time.
89
227000
3000
到时间开始的地方。
04:12
Around us, there's nothing.
90
237000
2000
我们周围都是虚无。
04:14
There's not even time or space.
91
239000
4000
甚至没有时间和空间。
04:18
Imagine the darkest, emptiest thing you can
92
243000
3000
尽你的可能想象那最黑暗，最空无的情况
04:21
and cube it a gazillion times
93
246000
2000
然后这种情况放大无数无数倍
04:23
and that's where we are.
94
248000
2000
那就是现在我们处在的时间点。
04:25
And then suddenly,
95
250000
3000
然后突然，
04:28
bang! A universe appears, an entire universe.
96
253000
3000
轰！宇宙出现了，一整个的宇宙。
04:31
And we've crossed our first threshold.
97
256000
2000
我们就这样穿过了我们第一个起始点。
04:33
The universe is tiny; it's smaller than an atom.
98
258000
2000
这时候的宇宙是微小的，比一个原子还小。
04:35
It's incredibly hot.
99
260000
2000
它极度的炽热。
04:37
It contains everything that's in today's universe,
100
262000
2000
它包含了今天这个宇宙的所有，
04:39
so you can imagine, it's busting.
101
264000
2000
但是你也知道，它是混沌的，
04:41
And it's expanding at incredible speed.
102
266000
3000
并且它以一种难以置信的速度膨胀。
04:44
And at first, it's just a blur,
103
269000
2000
一开始它只是一团混沌，
04:46
but very quickly distinct things begin to appear in that blur.
104
271000
3000
但是十分迅速而且各不相同的事发生在这片混沌。
04:49
Within the first second,
105
274000
2000
就在那第一秒，
04:51
energy itself shatters into distinct forces
106
276000
3000
能量本生粉碎进入不同的力场当中
04:54
including electromagnetism and gravity.
107
279000
2000
包括电磁场以及重力场。
04:56
And energy does something else quite magical:
108
281000
3000
而且能量也产生一些其它奇妙的现象，
04:59
it congeals to form matter --
109
284000
3000
它凝固从而形成物质--
05:02
quarks that will create protons
110
287000
2000
夸克，这种可以形成带点的质子
05:04
and leptons that include electrons.
111
289000
3000
和轻子。
05:07
And all of that happens in the first second.
112
292000
2000
所有的一切发生在第一秒。
05:09
Now we move forward 380,000 years.
113
294000
5000
现在让我们跨越38万年。
05:14
That's twice as long as humans have been on this planet.
114
299000
3000
这是人类在这个星球存在时间的两倍。
05:17
And now simple atoms appear
115
302000
3000
现在普通原子
05:20
of hydrogen and helium.
116
305000
3000
氢，氦出现了。
05:23
Now I want to pause for a moment,
117
308000
2000
现在我想暂停一会儿，
05:25
380,000 years after the origins of the universe,
118
310000
3000
在宇宙起源之后的38万年里，
05:28
because we actually know quite a lot
119
313000
2000
因为我们实际上了解很多
05:30
about the universe at this stage.
120
315000
2000
关于这个阶段的宇宙。
05:32
We know above all that it was extremely simple.
121
317000
3000
我们知道，首先它是一个极度简单的宇宙。
05:35
It consisted of huge clouds
122
320000
2000
它包含了大量的氢，氦原子
05:37
of hydrogen and helium atoms,
123
322000
2000
的大片云，
05:39
and they have no structure.
124
324000
2000
而且它们没有架构。
05:41
They're really a sort of cosmic mush.
125
326000
3000
它们确实是某种宇宙混沌。
05:44
But that's not completely true.
126
329000
2000
但是这不是完全正确的。
05:46
Recent studies
127
331000
2000
现有
05:48
by satellites such as the WMAP satellite
128
333000
3000
根据卫星的研究，比如威尔金森微波各向异性探测器卫星
05:51
have shown that, in fact, there are just tiny differences in that background.
129
336000
4000
表明，实际上，在那个背景下有一点点不同。
05:55
What you see here,
130
340000
2000
你现在看到的，
05:57
the blue areas are about a thousandth of a degree cooler
131
342000
3000
蓝色的区域
06:00
than the red areas.
132
345000
2000
相比于红色的区域要冷上大约一千度。
06:02
These are tiny differences,
133
347000
2000
这就是一点不同之处，
06:04
but it was enough for the universe to move on
134
349000
2000
但是这足够让宇宙继续演变
06:06
to the next stage of building complexity.
135
351000
2000
到下一个阶段创造的复杂性。
06:08
And this is how it works.
136
353000
2000
这就是它怎么运作的。
06:10
Gravity is more powerful
137
355000
3000
重力场的作用力更大
06:13
where there's more stuff.
138
358000
2000
拥有比较多的物质。
06:15
So where you get slightly denser areas,
139
360000
2000
所以这里我们有个密度稍微大的区域，
06:17
gravity starts compacting clouds
140
362000
2000
重力场开始凝结成
06:19
of hydrogen and helium atoms.
141
364000
2000
氢氦原子的原子云。
06:21
So we can imagine the early universe breaking up
142
366000
2000
我们能想象早起宇宙散布
06:23
into a billion clouds.
143
368000
2000
在十亿的原子云中。
06:25
And each cloud is compacted,
144
370000
2000
每片云都是紧凑的，
06:27
gravity gets more powerful as density increases,
145
372000
3000
重力场就随着密度的增加而效果更加明显，
06:30
the temperature begins to rise at the center of each cloud,
146
375000
2000
在每片云的中心温度开始升高，
06:32
and then, at the center of each cloud,
147
377000
2000
而且在每片云的中心，
06:34
the temperature crosses the threshold temperature
148
379000
3000
温度超过了阈温度
06:37
of 10 million degrees,
149
382000
2000
之上一千万度，
06:39
protons start to fuse,
150
384000
2000
质子开始融合，
06:41
there's a huge release of energy,
151
386000
3000
这释放出大量的能量，
06:44
and, bam!
152
389000
2000
接着，轰！
06:46
We have our first stars.
153
391000
2000
我们就有了第一颗恒星。
06:48
From about 200 million years after the Big Bang,
154
393000
4000
大约距离大爆炸之后的2亿年，
06:52
stars begin to appear all through the universe,
155
397000
3000
恒星开始在整个宇宙出现，
06:55
billions of them.
156
400000
2000
成千上万的恒星。
06:57
And the universe is now significantly more interesting
157
402000
3000
宇宙现在开始相当的有趣
07:00
and more complex.
158
405000
3000
也更加复杂。
07:03
Stars will create the Goldilocks conditions
159
408000
2000
恒星开始创作黄金条件
07:05
for crossing two new thresholds.
160
410000
3000
来超越两个新的起始点。
07:08
When very large stars die,
161
413000
2000
当巨大的星系泯灭的时候，
07:10
they create temperatures so high
162
415000
3000
它们有着很高的温度
07:13
that protons begin to fuse in all sorts of exotic combinations,
163
418000
3000
以至于质子开始融合进入各种奇异混合物中，
07:16
to form all the elements of the periodic table.
164
421000
3000
来形成在元素周期表上的所有元素。
07:19
If, like me, you're wearing a gold ring,
165
424000
3000
就好像，你正带着一个黄金的戒指，
07:22
it was forged in a supernova explosion.
166
427000
3000
它是天体爆炸而铸就的。
07:25
So now the universe is chemically more complex.
167
430000
3000
所以现在的宇宙在化学程度上是更加复杂的。
07:28
And in a chemically more complex universe,
168
433000
3000
对于一个化学程度上更加复杂的宇宙而言，
07:31
it's possible to make more things.
169
436000
2000
就有可能做更多的事情。
07:33
And what starts happening
170
438000
2000
然后要开始产生的
07:35
is that, around young suns,
171
440000
2000
是新生的太阳，
07:37
young stars,
172
442000
2000
新生的恒星，
07:39
all these elements combine, they swirl around,
173
444000
2000
所以的元素结合，它们在一起旋转，
07:41
the energy of the star stirs them around,
174
446000
2000
星球的能量搅拌它们，
07:43
they form particles, they form snowflakes,
175
448000
3000
它们形成微粒，形成雪花，
07:46
they form little dust motes,
176
451000
2000
形成微小的灰尘微粒，
07:48
they form rocks, they form asteroids,
177
453000
2000
它们形成岩石，形成小行星，
07:50
and eventually, they form planets and moons.
178
455000
3000
最后它们形成行星和月亮。
07:53
And that is how our solar system was formed,
179
458000
3000
这就是我们太阳系形成的过程，
07:56
four and a half billion years ago.
180
461000
3000
在45亿年前，
07:59
Rocky planets like our Earth
181
464000
3000
岩石型的行星比如地球
08:02
are significantly more complex than stars
182
467000
3000
比起其他恒星就明显更加复杂了
08:05
because they contain a much greater diversity of materials.
183
470000
3000
因为它们包含了更加多样性的物质。
08:08
So we've crossed a fourth threshold of complexity.
184
473000
3000
因此我们已经穿过了第四个复杂性的起始点。
08:12
Now, the going gets tougher.
185
477000
3000
现在，（变化的条件）就更加苛刻了。
08:16
The next stage introduces entities
186
481000
2000
下一个阶段是初次形成的个体
08:18
that are significantly more fragile,
187
483000
2000
个体是明显更加弱小，
08:20
significantly more vulnerable,
188
485000
2000
更加脆弱的，
08:22
but they're also much more creative
189
487000
3000
但是它们也更加有创造力
08:25
and much more capable of generating further complexity.
190
490000
3000
也更加有能力创造更多的复杂性。
08:28
I'm talking, of course,
191
493000
2000
当然，我说的
08:30
about living organisms.
192
495000
2000
是生命个体。
08:32
Living organisms are created by chemistry.
193
497000
2000
生命个体是有化学物质组成的。
08:34
We are huge packages of chemicals.
194
499000
3000
我们是大量化学物质的集合。
08:38
So, chemistry is dominated by the electromagnetic force.
195
503000
3000
化学是被电子磁场力所控制。
08:41
That operates over smaller scales than gravity,
196
506000
2000
这运用在比重力场更小范围的地方，
08:43
which explains why you and I
197
508000
2000
这也解释了为什么你和我
08:45
are smaller than stars or planets.
198
510000
2000
要比那恒星和行星小。
08:47
Now, what are the ideal conditions for chemistry?
199
512000
3000
现在，什么才是化学物质的理想环境呢？
08:50
What are the Goldilocks conditions?
200
515000
2000
什么才是黄金条件呢？
08:52
Well, first, you need energy,
201
517000
2000
首先，你需要能量，
08:54
but not too much.
202
519000
2000
但是不需要太多。
08:56
In the center of a star, there's so much energy
203
521000
2000
在恒星的内部，有着巨大的能量，
08:58
that any atoms that combine will just get busted apart again.
204
523000
3000
以至于任何原子结合之后就会重新分开。
09:01
But not too little.
205
526000
2000
但是也不要太少。
09:03
In intergalactic space, there's so little energy
206
528000
2000
在银河系中，只有一点点的能量
09:05
that atoms can't combine.
207
530000
3000
以至于原子都无法结合。
09:08
What you want is just the right amount,
208
533000
2000
你要的就是那刚刚好的量，
09:10
and planets, it turns out, are just right,
209
535000
2000
它也证明，行星的适量是刚刚适中的，
09:12
because they're close to stars, but not too close.
210
537000
3000
因为它们接近恒星了，但也不是太接近。
09:15
You also need a great diversity of chemical elements,
211
540000
3000
你也需要各种化学元素，
09:18
and you need liquid such as water.
212
543000
3000
同时你也需要液体比如水。
09:21
Why?
213
546000
2000
为什么？
09:23
Well, in gasses, atoms move past each other so fast
214
548000
3000
因为在气体的环境，相互间原子的运动如此的快
09:26
that they can't hitch up.
215
551000
2000
以至于它们不能结合。
09:28
In solids,
216
553000
2000
在固体的环境下，
09:30
atoms are stuck together, they can't move.
217
555000
3000
原子被固定在一起，它们不能运动。
09:33
In liquids,
218
558000
2000
在液体环境下，
09:35
they can cruise and cuddle
219
560000
2000
它们能游动和碰撞
09:37
and link up to form molecules.
220
562000
3000
也能结合形成分子。
09:40
Now, where do you find such Goldilocks conditions?
221
565000
3000
那在哪里你才能找到这些黄金条件呢？
09:43
Well, planets are great,
222
568000
2000
那行星就是不错的，
09:45
and our early Earth
223
570000
2000
我们早期的地球
09:47
was almost perfect.
224
572000
2000
几乎就是完美的。
09:49
It was just the right distance from its star
225
574000
2000
它和其他恒星之间距离适中
09:51
to contain huge oceans of open water.
226
576000
3000
来形成大量的液态水的海洋。
09:54
And deep beneath those oceans,
227
579000
2000
在这些海洋下方
09:56
at cracks in the Earth's crust,
228
581000
2000
地壳的断层中，
09:58
you've got heat seeping up from inside the Earth,
229
583000
3000
你能从地球内部渗透出热量，
10:01
and you've got a great diversity of elements.
230
586000
2000
而且你也能得到各种原子。
10:03
So at those deep oceanic vents,
231
588000
2000
所以在这些深海的开口上，
10:05
fantastic chemistry began to happen,
232
590000
3000
奇妙的化学变化开始进行，
10:08
and atoms combined in all sorts of exotic combinations.
233
593000
3000
原子结合成奇异的混合物。
10:12
But of course, life is more
234
597000
2000
但是当然，生命不仅仅
10:14
than just exotic chemistry.
235
599000
2000
是奇异的化学物质。
10:16
How do you stabilize
236
601000
2000
那是怎么稳定
10:18
those huge molecules
237
603000
2000
那些大量的
10:20
that seem to be viable?
238
605000
3000
似乎有存活的分子的呢？
10:23
Well, it's here that life introduces
239
608000
2000
这就是生命呈现的
10:25
an entirely new trick.
240
610000
3000
一个全新的窍诀。
10:28
You don't stabilize the individual;
241
613000
2000
不能稳定个体；
10:30
you stabilize the template,
242
615000
2000
只能稳定模板，
10:32
the thing that carries information,
243
617000
2000
那是携带信息的东西，
10:34
and you allow the template to copy itself.
244
619000
2000
让模板复制自己。
10:36
And DNA, of course,
245
621000
2000
当然，DNA
10:38
is the beautiful molecule
246
623000
2000
是美丽的分子，
10:40
that contains that information.
247
625000
2000
包含着信息。
10:42
You'll be familiar with the double helix of DNA.
248
627000
3000
你熟悉双螺旋型的DNA。
10:45
Each rung contains information.
249
630000
2000
每个链都包含信息。
10:47
So, DNA contains information
250
632000
2000
所以DNA就包含
10:49
about how to make living organisms.
251
634000
3000
关于如何创造生命体的信息。
10:52
And DNA also copies itself.
252
637000
2000
同时DNA也能自我拷贝。
10:54
So, it copies itself
253
639000
2000
所以它自我拷贝
10:56
and scatters the templates through the ocean.
254
641000
2000
同时把模板扩散到海洋中。
10:58
So the information spreads.
255
643000
2000
因此信息也传递开了。
11:00
Notice that information has become part of our story.
256
645000
3000
值得注意的是信息已经成为我们故事中的一部分。
11:03
The real beauty of DNA though
257
648000
2000
DNA真正的魅力在于
11:05
is in its imperfections.
258
650000
2000
它的不完美。
11:07
As it copies itself,
259
652000
2000
当它自我拷贝的时候，
11:09
once in every billion rungs,
260
654000
2000
在每十亿个链中有一个链，
11:11
there tends to be an error.
261
656000
2000
可能产生错误。
11:13
And what that means
262
658000
2000
也就是说
11:15
is that DNA is, in effect, learning.
263
660000
3000
实际上，DNA在进化。
11:18
It's accumulating new ways of making living organisms
264
663000
2000
它在积累创造生命体的新方法
11:20
because some of those errors work.
265
665000
2000
因为有些错误是可以运作的。
11:22
So DNA's learning
266
667000
2000
所以DNA是在进化
11:24
and it's building greater diversity and greater complexity.
267
669000
3000
它在呈现丰富多样性和大量的复杂性。
11:27
And we can see this happening over the last four billion years.
268
672000
3000
我们看到这进化持续发生了四十多亿年。
11:30
For most of that time of life on Earth,
269
675000
2000
对于地球上的生物大部分这段时间内，
11:32
living organisms have been relatively simple --
270
677000
2000
生物已经进化的相对简单--
11:34
single cells.
271
679000
2000
单细胞生物。
11:36
But they had great diversity,
272
681000
2000
但是它们是十分多样的，
11:38
and, inside, great complexity.
273
683000
2000
而且，内部结构，极其复杂。
11:40
Then from about 600 to 800 million years ago,
274
685000
3000
然后6亿年到8亿年之前，
11:43
multi-celled organisms appear.
275
688000
2000
多细胞生物出现。
11:45
You get fungi, you get fish,
276
690000
2000
你会发现菌类，鱼，
11:47
you get plants,
277
692000
2000
植物，
11:49
you get amphibia, you get reptiles,
278
694000
3000
两栖类，爬行类，
11:52
and then, of course, you get the dinosaurs.
279
697000
3000
然后，当然，你会发现恐龙。
11:55
And occasionally, there are disasters.
280
700000
4000
接着，偶然间，发生了灾难。
11:59
Sixty-five million years ago,
281
704000
2000
6500万年之前，
12:01
an asteroid landed on Earth
282
706000
2000
一颗陨石撞击地球
12:03
near the Yucatan Peninsula,
283
708000
2000
在犹卡坦半岛附近，
12:05
creating conditions equivalent to those of a nuclear war,
284
710000
3000
引发的情况相当于一场核战争，
12:08
and the dinosaurs were wiped out.
285
713000
2000
恐龙就被彻底灭绝了。
12:10
Terrible news for the dinosaurs,
286
715000
4000
对于恐龙来说是可怕的消息。
12:14
but great news for our mammalian ancestors,
287
719000
3000
但是这是好消息对于
12:17
who flourished
288
722000
2000
在恐龙遗留下的空旷之地
12:19
in the niches left empty by the dinosaurs.
289
724000
3000
蓬勃发展的哺乳类祖先来说。
12:22
And we human beings
290
727000
2000
我们人类
12:24
are part of that creative evolutionary pulse
291
729000
3000
就是这次
12:27
that began 65 million years ago
292
732000
3000
始于6500万年前
12:30
with the landing of an asteroid.
293
735000
2000
随着陨石撞击后，生物进化狂潮的一部分。
12:33
Humans appeared about 200,000 years ago.
294
738000
3000
人类起源于20万年前。
12:36
And I believe we count
295
741000
2000
我相信我们认定
12:38
as a threshold in this great story.
296
743000
2000
作为这个宏观的故事的一个起始点。
12:40
Let me explain why.
297
745000
2000
让我解释一下为什么。
12:42
We've seen that DNA learns in a sense,
298
747000
3000
我们已经看到DNA某种意义上的进化，
12:45
it accumulates information.
299
750000
2000
它积累信息。
12:47
But it is so slow.
300
752000
2000
但是这十分缓慢。
12:49
DNA accumulates information
301
754000
2000
DNA累积信息
12:51
through random errors,
302
756000
2000
伴随着随机的差错，
12:53
some of which just happen to work.
303
758000
3000
有些差错也可以运作。
12:56
But DNA had actually generated a faster way of learning:
304
761000
2000
但是DNA已经发展成一种更快的进化方式；
12:58
it had produced organisms with brains,
305
763000
3000
它产生了有大脑的生物，
13:01
and those organisms can learn in real time.
306
766000
3000
那些生物能及时的进化。
13:04
They accumulate information, they learn.
307
769000
3000
它们积累信息，它们进化。
13:07
The sad thing is,
308
772000
2000
但是遗憾的是，
13:09
when they die, the information dies with them.
309
774000
3000
当它们死亡，信息也随着它们死亡。
13:12
Now what makes humans different
310
777000
2000
让人类特别的是
13:14
is human language.
311
779000
2000
人类的语言。
13:16
We are blessed with a language, a system of communication,
312
781000
2000
我们有幸能有语言，一种交流方式。
13:18
so powerful and so precise
313
783000
3000
如此的强大和准确
13:21
that we can share what we've learned with such precision
314
786000
3000
以至于我们可以准确的分享我们学到的事
13:24
that it can accumulate in the collective memory.
315
789000
3000
它就积累成为集体记忆。
13:27
And that means
316
792000
2000
这就意味着
13:29
it can outlast the individuals who learned that information,
317
794000
3000
它能比学到信息的个体存在的更长久，
13:32
and it can accumulate from generation to generation.
318
797000
4000
而且它也能一代一代的积累。
13:36
And that's why, as a species, we're so creative
319
801000
2000
这就是为什么，作为一个物种，我们如此的有创造力
13:38
and so powerful,
320
803000
2000
如此强大，
13:40
and that's why we have a history.
321
805000
2000
这就是为什么我们有历史。
13:42
We seem to be the only species in four billion years
322
807000
3000
我们似乎是在40亿年中唯一的
13:45
to have this gift.
323
810000
2000
拥有这种天赋的生物。
13:47
I call this ability
324
812000
2000
我把这个叫做
13:49
collective learning.
325
814000
2000
集体学习的能力。
13:51
It's what makes us different.
326
816000
2000
这使我们如此特殊。
13:53
We can see it at work
327
818000
2000
我们可以看到
13:55
in the earliest stages of human history.
328
820000
2000
在人类历史早期的阶段这种能力的运作。
13:57
We evolved as a species
329
822000
2000
我们作为一种物种
13:59
in the savanna lands of Africa,
330
824000
2000
在非洲的草原上演化，
14:01
but then you see humans migrating into new environments,
331
826000
3000
但是然后你看到人类迁徙到一个新的环境--
14:04
into desert lands, into jungles,
332
829000
2000
进入到沙漠，进入雨林，
14:06
into the ice age tundra of Siberia --
333
831000
2000
进入西伯利亚冻土带--
14:08
tough, tough environment --
334
833000
2000
艰苦，艰苦的环境中--
14:10
into the Americas, into Australasia.
335
835000
2000
进入美洲，澳洲。
14:12
Each migration involved learning --
336
837000
2000
每次迁徙都涉及到学习--
14:14
learning new ways of exploiting the environment,
337
839000
3000
学习新的方法来利用环境，
14:17
new ways of dealing with their surroundings.
338
842000
2000
新的方法来适应环境。
14:19
Then 10,000 years ago,
339
844000
2000
然后一万年前，
14:21
exploiting a sudden change in global climate
340
846000
2000
全球环境突然发生变化
14:23
with the end of the last ice age,
341
848000
2000
在冰河世纪晚期，
14:25
humans learned to farm.
342
850000
3000
人类学会耕种。
14:28
Farming was an energy bonanza.
343
853000
2000
农业是一个能量密集型产业。
14:30
And exploiting that energy,
344
855000
2000
同时利用这个能量，
14:32
human populations multiplied.
345
857000
2000
人口增长。
14:34
Human societies got larger, denser,
346
859000
2000
人类社会变的更庞大，更密集，
14:36
more interconnected.
347
861000
2000
更加相互交流。
14:38
And then from about 500 years ago,
348
863000
4000
然后大约500年之前
14:42
humans began to link up globally
349
867000
2000
人类开始全球化的联系
14:44
through shipping, through trains,
350
869000
2000
通过轮船，通过铁路，
14:46
through telegraph, through the Internet,
351
871000
3000
通过电报，通过网络，
14:49
until now we seem to form
352
874000
2000
直到现在我们似乎已经形成
14:51
a single global brain
353
876000
2000
一个单独的全球性大脑
14:53
of almost seven billion individuals.
354
878000
2000
它包含着近70亿个个体。
14:55
And that brain is learning at warp speed.
355
880000
5000
这个大脑以一种超速学习着。
15:00
And in the last 200 years, something else has happened.
356
885000
2000
在过去200年，有一些事发生了：
15:02
We've stumbled on another energy bonanza
357
887000
2000
我们偶然发现另外一个能量源
15:04
in fossil fuels.
358
889000
2000
石油。
15:06
So fossil fuels and collective learning together
359
891000
3000
所以石油以及集体学习进化一起
15:09
explain the staggering complexity
360
894000
2000
解释了
15:11
we see around us.
361
896000
2000
我们周围的让人吃惊的复杂性。
15:16
So, here we are,
362
901000
3000
那么，这儿我们现在
15:19
back at the convention center.
363
904000
2000
回到演讲厅。
15:21
We've been on a journey, a return journey,
364
906000
2000
我们已经在一个旅行，一个追溯
15:23
of 13.7 billion years.
365
908000
3000
137亿年的旅行中。
15:26
I hope you agree that this is a powerful story.
366
911000
3000
我希望你认同这是一个震撼人心的故事。
15:29
And it's a story in which humans
367
914000
2000
同时这也是有关人类
15:31
play an astonishing and creative role.
368
916000
3000
发挥惊人能力和创造性作用的故事。
15:34
But it also contains warnings.
369
919000
3000
但是这同时也有警告。
15:37
Collective learning is a very, very powerful force,
370
922000
4000
集体学习是一种十分，十分强大的力量，
15:41
and it's not clear
371
926000
2000
而且还不能确定
15:43
that we humans are in charge of it.
372
928000
3000
它能否被我们人类控制。
15:46
I remember very vividly as a child growing up in England,
373
931000
3000
当我从小在英格兰长大，
15:49
living through the Cuban Missile Crisis.
374
934000
3000
我对古巴导弹危机下的生活记忆犹新。
15:52
For a few days,
375
937000
2000
有几天，
15:54
the entire biosphere
376
939000
2000
整个生物圈
15:56
seemed to be on the verge of destruction.
377
941000
3000
好像在毁灭的边缘。
15:59
And the same weapons are still here,
378
944000
3000
同样的武器还是在那里，
16:02
and they are still armed.
379
947000
2000
他们同样还是武装着。
16:04
If we avoid that trap,
380
949000
2000
如果我们避免那些陷阱，
16:06
others are waiting for us.
381
951000
2000
其他的还在等着我们。
16:08
We're burning fossil fuels at such a rate
382
953000
3000
我们如此快速地燃烧着石油
16:11
that we seem to be undermining the Goldilocks conditions
383
956000
3000
以至于我们似乎暗中在破坏
16:14
that made it possible for human civilizations
384
959000
2000
让人类文明
16:16
to flourish over the last 10,000 years.
385
961000
4000
繁荣了一万年之久的黄金条件。
16:20
So what big history can do
386
965000
2000
因此宏观的历史能做的
16:22
is show us the nature of our complexity and fragility
387
967000
3000
是展示给我们，我们自身复杂性和脆弱性的一面
16:25
and the dangers that face us,
388
970000
2000
以及我们面对的危机，
16:27
but it can also show us
389
972000
3000
但是它也展现给我们，
16:30
our power with collective learning.
390
975000
2000
我们集体学习的力量。
16:32
And now, finally,
391
977000
3000
现在，最后的，
16:35
this is what I want.
392
980000
4000
是我怎么想的。
16:39
I want my grandson, Daniel,
393
984000
3000
我想我的孙子丹尼尔
16:42
and his friends and his generation,
394
987000
2000
和他的朋友，他这代，
16:44
throughout the world,
395
989000
2000
遍布全球的一代，
16:46
to know the story of big history,
396
991000
3000
知道这个宏观的故事，
16:49
and to know it so well
397
994000
2000
以及它如此伟大
16:51
that they understand
398
996000
2000
能让他们了解
16:53
both the challenges that face us
399
998000
2000
不仅仅是我们面临的挑战
16:55
and the opportunities that face us.
400
1000000
3000
同时也是我们面对的机遇。
16:58
And that's why a group of us
401
1003000
2000
这也是为什么我们这一群人
17:00
are building a free, online syllabus
402
1005000
2000
正在建立一个免费在线的
17:02
in big history
403
1007000
2000
宏观的历史教学纲要
17:04
for high school students throughout the world.
404
1009000
2000
为了全世界高等教育的学生。
17:06
We believe that big history
405
1011000
3000
我们相信这宏观的历史
17:09
will be a vital intellectual tool for them,
406
1014000
3000
将会是一个重要的智慧工具，
17:12
as Daniel and his generation
407
1017000
3000
对于丹尼尔和他那一代
17:15
face the huge challenges
408
1020000
2000
得面临巨大挑战
17:17
and also the huge opportunities
409
1022000
2000
同时也是巨大机遇
17:19
ahead of them at this threshold moment
410
1024000
3000
在他们之前的这个起始点
17:22
in the history of our beautiful planet.
411
1027000
4000
在我们美丽星球的历史长河中。
17:26
I thank you for your attention.
412
1031000
2000
感谢大家。
17:28
(Applause)
413
1033000
5000
（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
David Christian - HistorianDavid Christian teaches an ambitious world history course that tells the tale of the entire universe -- from the Big Bang 13 billion years ago to present day.
Why you should listen
David Christian is by training a historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, but since the 1980s he has become interested in world history on very large scales. He has written on the social and material history of the 19th-century Russian peasantry, in particular on aspects of diet and the role of alcohol. In 1989, he began teaching courses on "Big History," surveying the past on the largest possible scales, including those of biology and astronomy.
Christian is a member of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. Over the next few years he will also be working with the support of Bill Gates to create an online course in "Big History" for high school students.
Watch the Big History series on H2 >>
David Christian | Speaker | TED.com