Angelico's Journey

Part III: The Unification of Humankind

Lecture 8: The Direction of History

After the Agricultural Revolution, humans created many different cultures and societies. The relations between these different societies were very complex, and involved wars and conflicts as well as trade, immigration and imitation. But as time went by, the connections between the societies became stronger and stronger, so that humankind was gradually united into a single global society. Three main forces shaped this process of unification. The first was money and trade. Money is the most universal system of mutual trust ever devised by humans. How come even people who believe in different gods and obey rival kings, are nevertheless willing to use the same money?

Summary of Lesson 8-1

By Woo Keun Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 8-2

By Woo Kyoung Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 8-3

By Se-won Ahn in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Lecture 9: Imperial Visions

The second force that shaped the process of human unification is imperialism. The idea of empire is seen today in a very negative light, but empires have played such a central role in human history that it’s hard to regard them as totally evil. What exactly is an empire? How have empires succeeded in uniting under their control different ecological regions, ethnic groups, and religious communities? How can we balance the positive contribution of empires with their record of violence and oppression? And what is the future of the imperial ideal? Is the world destined to be ruled by a new global empire?

Summary of Lesson 9-1

By Woo Kyoung Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 9-2

By Se-won Ahn in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 9-3

By Woo Keun Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Lecture 10: The Law of Religion

The third force that shaped the process of human unification is religion. The role of religion in history is extremely controversial. Some see religion as the root of all evil, while for others it is the primary source of happiness, empathy, and progress. Can we arrive at a balanced judgment? What were the main landmarks in the religious history of the world? In what ways did different cultures understand the universe, distinguish good from evil, and explain the ubiquitous presence of suffering?

Summary of Lesson 10-1

By Woo Kyoung Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 10-2

By Se-won Ahn in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 10-3

By Woo Keun Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬

Summary of Lesson 10-4

By Woo Kyoung Kim in A Brief History of Humankind - Korean study group♬