David Christian
David Gilbert Christian is a historian who pioneered the interdisciplinary field of Big History.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Africa and England, he earned degrees from Oxford and the University of Western Ontario.
Christian began teaching Big History in 1989, examining history from the Big Bang to present day using insights from various scientific and humanities disciplines.
His approach frames human history within cosmic, geological, and biological contexts.
Christian's work caught the attention of Bill Gates, who funded efforts to bring Big History to high schools worldwide.
As president of the International Big History Association, Christian continues to promote this expansive view of history.
