/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.1983198]

I want to learn the history of the entire world. Where to start?

[Anonymous No.1983202]

With what you really care about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Sexuality

[Anonymous No.1983206]

Where everyone starts: Lolita, Pynchon, and Twain

[Anonymous No.1983207]

>>1983206
I don't get it.

[Anonymous No.1983211]

>>1983207
ok. "where everyone SHOULD start"

[Anonymous No.1983222]

If you want the full history, I guess learn about how rocks in space became bigger rocks in space and made Earth.

[Anonymous No.1983223]

When I glanced at that picture, I thought it was one of those shrinky-faced "goddomit fronk" photoshopped pictures, but of Jason Statham.

[Anonymous No.1983340]

>>1983222
He said he wanted to learn history, not physics. By studying history, most would like to have a holistic understanding of life and man and his society, something which the modern study of natural sciences can't provide (unlike the traditional natural sciences, which were mere vehicles for metaphysical studies).

If I want to know why the sun figures on so many flags, studying the composition of the star and processes of its emanation won't help much.

This is a simple truth which escapes many, especially these "popular scientists" and their fanboys.

[Anonymous No.1983344]

The Bible.

[Anonymous No.1983350]

Start at the Big Bang.

[Anonymous No.1983353]

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that history is an exponential line of progress from the dark ages to finally perfecting itself in modern times, where it plateaus.

[Anonymous No.1983355]

>>1983350
oh ive alredy done that
i watched the tv sohw u know

[Anonymous No.1983372]

Herodotus

[Anonymous No.1983374]

It's often best to chronologically learn things that take place in a sequence, so I'd say start 4.54 billion years ago.

[Anonymous No.1983376]

>>1983374
Anything that happened before man is of very little importance to anyone other than physical sciences students, people who try to invent and maintain stuff.

While OP seems to be seeking holistic kn knowledge, you are directing him toward a very utilitarian branch of science.

[Anonymous No.1983377]

>Read The Nature of History by Arthur Marwick and What is History by EH Carr. You could take a look at The Postmodern History Reader, Keith Jenkins (ed) as well.
>Realise that it is impossible to know the entire history of anything, let alone the entire world.
>Relax

[Anonymous No.1983380]

>>1983376
He didn't say "I want to learn the history of man." He said "I want to learn the history of the entire world." While an understanding of science would aid in this pursuit, it's not necessary to understanding the history of the events that occurred.

[Anonymous No.1983383]

>>1983380
Are you telling me that geology brings more substantial knowledge to a man than traditional history, considering that it is indeed geology you mean by "science"?

As far as I can tell he seems to be interested in the world, not mining for ore and precious metal or anti-earthquake architecture or field in which geography is useful.

[Anonymous No.1983384]

Watch the mini series "CIVILIZATION", it dates from the 70's but it sitll holds up remarkably well. Besides that I'd check out the Cambridge Press survey course books, they tend to be divided by topic and follow specific era's of history. We tend to use a Cambridge Press Survey Text+Primary Source collection for all of my history courses.

[Anonymous No.1983385]

>>1983383
*geology

[Anonymous No.1983386]

>>1983384
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNGzoJFj9g8
Here's the first video.

[Anonymous No.1983395]

>>1983380
If he used the world "entire" it's to specify to not only learn about history of part of the world, but all the parts, and it can only means human history, for you don't typically learn part of the Earth's geological history. So he meant the history of humanity. Which makes sense since we're on /lit/ and not /sci/. If he meant of the world, he should have simply said "world" and not "entire world".

[Anonymous No.1983403]

>>1983395
Perhaps we should refer him then to how to make tajines (the earthenware, and perhaps some variations of the dish), and how people throughout the world clean their bottoms after defecating, and in-depth calculus. All of these are aspects of the human existence, yet they are not much useful outside of certain domains of education and industry, just like geology.

It might be a good idea for a seeker of general knowledge to demystify himself vis-a-vis geology, but that usually happens in high school, so there's not much point for him to study geology afterward.

[Anonymous No.1983406]

>>1983403

>how people throughout the world clean their bottoms after defecating,

I'd read the shit out of that book. You should definitely write that motherucker.