Big History Periodization: Complexity, Directions, and Phase Characteristics

The chapter presents a groundbreaking periodization of Big History, challenging traditional views that distinguish only three or four phases. The authors propose a scheme consisting of ten phases, divided into five main phases and five transitional phases, to provide a more detailed and comprehensive picture of evolutionary development. This approach reduces the qualitative gap between the main phases and reveals the mechanisms of evolutionary transitions to higher levels of complexity. The chapter explores the advantages and disadvantages of this periodization, highlighting the rhythm and complexity of evolutionary processes. It introduces the concepts of lateral and dead-end lines, which represent evolutionary paths that did not lead to higher complexity but are crucial for understanding the overall evolutionary landscape. The authors also discuss the methodological procedures of periodization and the aims and objectives of their proposed scheme, offering a fresh perspective on the unfolding of Big History. The chapter is structured to provide a detailed description of the main and transitional phases, the novelty of the research, and the implications of this periodization for understanding evolutionary processes. Additionally, it includes an appendix that provides general ideas about the stages of the planetary phase, offering a deeper insight into the evolutionary processes that are less known to many students of Big History.