The history of our world 4
Humans appeared about 200,000 years ago.
And I believe we count as a threshold in this great story. Let me explain why.
ps:我相信在这个伟大的故事中，我们算是一个门槛。让我解释一下原因。
believe相信; 认为真实; 把当真; 认为有可能; 认定; 看作
count as当作
threshold门槛; 门口; 阈; 界; 起始点; 开端; 起点; 入门
great大的; 巨大的; 数量大的; 众多的; 很; 非常的; 很多的; 极大的; 名人; 伟人; 伟大的事物; 很好地; 极好地; 很棒地
story故事; 小说; 叙述，描述; 对往事的叙述; 用历史故事画装饰; 讲…的故事; 把…作为故事讲述说谎
Let允许; 让; 准许; 许可; 同意; 擦网球; 出租; 租借
explain解释; 说明; 阐明; 说明原因; 解释理由
why为什么，为何; 何必; 为什么，…的原因; 哎呀，呦，哟，嗨; 原因;理由;说明;难解的问题
We've seen that DNA learns in a sense, it accumulates information. But it is so slow.
DNA accumulates information through random errors, some of which just happen to work.
But DNA had actually generated a faster way of learning: it had produced organisms with brains, and those organisms can learn in real time.
ps:但DNA实际上产生了一种更快的学习方式：它产生了具有大脑的有机体，这些有机体可以实时学习。
DNA脱氧核糖核酸
actually的确，真实地，事实上; 居然，竟然; 实际上
generated产生; 引起; generate的过去分词和过去式
faster快; 快速; 迅速; 不久; 立即; 牢固地; 完全地; 快的; 迅速的; 敏捷的; 迅速发生的; 立即发生的; 动作迅速的; 头脑灵活的; fast的比较级
learning学习; 知识; 学问; 学识; 学; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记; learn的现在分词
produced生产; 制造; 生长; 出产; 繁育; 制作，造出; produce的过去分词和过去式
organisms有机体; 生物; 微生物; 有机组织; 有机体系; organism的复数
brains脑; 动物脑髓; 智力; 脑力; 逻辑思维能力; 猛击…的脑袋致死; brain的第三人称单数和复数
learn学; 学习; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记
real time实时
They accumulate information, they learn.
The sad thing is, when they die, the information dies with them.
Now what makes humans different is human language.
We are blessed with a language, a system of communication, so powerful and so precise that we can share what we've learned with such precisionthat it can accumulate in the collective memory.
ps:我们有幸拥有一门语言，一个交流系统，如此强大，如此精确，以至于我们可以如此精确地分享我们所学到的，以至于它可以积累在集体记忆中。
blessed神圣的; 有福的; 愉快安宁的; 无忧无虑的; 求上帝降福于; 祝福; 祝圣; 称颂上帝; 赞美上帝; bless的过去分词和过去式
language语言; 语言文字; 言语; 说话; 某种类型的言语
communication表达; 交流; 交际; 传递; 通信; 交通联系; 信息; 书信; 电话
powerful有权势的; 有影响力的; 强有力的; 力量大的; 很有效的; 有强烈作用的，效力大的
and so因此
precise准确的; 确切的; 精确的; 明确的; 就，恰好; 细致的; 精细的; 认真的; 一丝不苟的
've(=value engineering)价值工程学; 同“have”
learned有学问的; 知识渊博的; 博学的; 学者的; 学术性的; 学问精深的; 通过训练形成的; 学到的; 非天生的; 学; 学习; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记; learn的过去分词和过去式
accumulate积累; 积聚; 逐渐增加; 逐渐增长
collective memory集体记忆
And that means it can outlast the individuals who learned that information, and it can accumulate from generation to generation.
ps:这意味着它可以比学习过这些信息的人更长久，而且它可以一代一代地积累。
means方式; 方法; 途径; 财富; 钱财; 表示…的意思; 意思是; 本意是; 打算; 意欲; 有…的目的; mean的第三人称单数和复数
outlast比…持续时间长
individuals个人; 与众不同的人; 有个性的人; 某种类型的人; 古怪的人; individual的复数
who谁，什么人; 表示所指的人; 进一步提供有关某人的信息
learned有学问的; 知识渊博的; 博学的; 学者的; 学术性的; 学问精深的; 通过训练形成的; 学到的; 非天生的; 学; 学习; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记; learn的过去分词和过去式
information信息; 消息; 情报; 资料; 资讯
accumulate积累; 积聚; 逐渐增加; 逐渐增长
from generation to generation世世代代，一代代
And that's why, as a species, we're so creative and so powerful, and that's why we have a history.
We seem to be the only species in four billion years to have this gift.
I call this ability collective learning. It's what makes us different.
We can see it at work in the earliest stages of human history.
We evolved as a species in the savanna lands of Africa, but then you see humans migrating into new environments, into desert lands, into jungles, into the Ice Age tundra of Siberia ,tough, tough environment , into the Americas, into Australasia.
ps:我们作为一个物种在非洲的稀树草原上进化，但是你会看到人类迁移到新的环境，进入沙漠地带，进入丛林，进入西伯利亚冰河期的冻土地带——艰苦的环境——进入美洲，进入澳大拉西亚
evolved逐渐形成，逐步发展，逐渐演变; 进化; 进化形成; evolve的过去分词和过去式
savanna热带稀树草原
but then不过，然而; 不过，但是
you see你瞧，要知道，你是知道的
migrating迁徙; 移居; 迁移; 移动; 转移; migrate的现在分词
jungles丛林，密林; 尔虞我诈的环境; 危险地带; 丛林音乐(20世纪90年代初发端于英国的一种流行快步舞曲，歌词多涉及城市生活); jungle的复数
Ice Age冰河时代; 冰期; 冰川期
tundra冻原，苔原
Australasia澳大拉西亚
Each migration involved learning, learning new ways of exploiting the environment, new ways of dealing with their surroundings.
ps:每次迁移都需要学习，学习新的开发环境的方法，新的处理环境的方法。
Each各自，各个，每个
migration迁移; 移居; 迁徙; 改变; 迁移，转移
involved参与; 作为一部分; 有关联; 耗费很多时间; 关注; 关系密切; 包含; 需要; 使成为必然部分; 牵涉; 牵连; 影响; 参加，加入; involve的过去分词和过去式
learning学习; 知识; 学问; 学识; 学; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记; learn的现在分词
ways方法; 手段; 途径; 方式; 作风; 风度; 样子; 行为方式，生活方式，习俗; way的复数
exploiting利用; 剥削; 压榨; 运用; 发挥; exploit的现在分词
environment环境; 客观环境; 自然环境; 生态环境; 工作平台; 软件包
dealing活动，往来; 经营作风; 经营方式; 买卖; 交易; 发牌; 非法买卖毒品; 贩毒; deal的现在分词
their他们的; 她们的; 它们的; 在提及性别不详的人时，用以代替his或her
surroundings环境; surrounding的复数
Then 10,000 years ago, exploiting a sudden change in global climate with the end of the last ice age, humans learned to farm.
ps:一万年前，随着上一个冰河时代的结束，利用全球气候的突然变化，人类学会了耕种。
years ago多年前
exploiting利用; 剥削; 压榨; 运用; 发挥; exploit的现在分词
change改变; 变化; 使不同; 变换，改换，变成; 变更; 变革; 替代; 更换; 替代物
global climate全球气候
end of结尾; 为某事物的结尾; 末尾
ice age冰期; 冰川期; 冰河时代
humans人; human的复数
learned有学问的; 知识渊博的; 博学的; 学者的; 学术性的; 学问精深的; 通过训练形成的; 学到的; 非天生的; 学; 学习; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记; learn的过去分词和过去式
farm农场; 农舍; 养殖场; 饲养场; 务农; 种田; 从事畜牧业
Farming was an energy bonanza.
ps:农业是一种能源财富。
energy精力; 活力; 干劲; 力量; 能源
bonanza发财的机遇; 兴盛; 繁
And exploiting that energy, human populations multiplied. Human societies got larger, denser, more interconnected.
ps:利用这种能量，人类数量成倍增长。人类社会变得更大、更密集、更紧密。
exploiting利用; 剥削; 压榨; 运用; 发挥; exploit的现在分词
energy精力; 活力; 干劲; 力量; 能源
human人的; 显示人类特有弱点的; 人本性的; 有人情味的; 通人情的; 人
populations人口，人口数量; 某领域的生物; 族群; 人口; population的复数
multiplied乘; 乘以; 成倍增加; 迅速增加; 繁殖，增殖; multiply的过去分词和过去式
societies社会; 社团; 协会; 学会; society的复数
larger大的; 大规模的; 大量的; 大型号的; 广泛的; 众多的; large的比较级
denser密集的; 稠密的; 浓密的; 浓重的; 愚笨的; 迟钝的; 笨拙的; dense的比较级
interconnected相联系，相互联系，相互连接; interconnect的过去分词和过去式
And then from about 500 years ago, humans began to link up globally through shipping, through trains,through telegraph, through the Internet, until now we seem to form a single global brain of almost seven billion individuals.
ps:从大约500年前开始，人类开始通过航运、火车、电报、互联网在全球建立联系，直到现在，我们似乎形成了一个由近70亿人组成的全球大脑。
humans人; human的复数
link up联合; 连接; 接合
globally全球地
trains火车; 列车; 列队行进的人; 队列; 行列; 一系列相关的事情; 训练; 培训; 接受训练; 进行…训练; 进行体育锻炼; 教育; 培养…的能力; train的第三人称单数和复数
telegraph电报; 打电报; 用电报发送; 电告; 流露，泄露
until now到现在为止，迄今
billion十亿; 数以十亿计; 大量; 一万亿
And that brain is learning at warp speed.
ps:大脑正在以超高速学习。
And that而且，并且
brain脑; 动物脑髓; 智力; 脑力; 逻辑思维能力; 猛击…的脑袋致死
learning学习; 知识; 学问; 学识; 学; 学到; 学会; 听到; 得知; 获悉; 记住; 背熟; 熟记; learn的现在分词
warp speed快速变形；飞行速度
And in the last 200 years, something else has happened. We've stumbled on another energy bonanza in fossil fuels.
ps:在过去的200年里，发生了一些别的事情。我们偶然发现了化石燃料的另一个能源宝藏。
in the last在最后；在终审时
years年; 日历年; 一年时间; 与某事相关的一年; 年度; year的复数
something else另一回事
happened发生，出现; 出现，发生; 碰巧; 恰好; happen的过去分词和过去式
've(=value engineering)价值工程学; 同“have”
stumbled绊脚; 跌跌撞撞地走; 蹒跚而行; 说，读，演奏; stumble的过去分词和过去式
another又一; 再一; 另一; 不同的; 类似的
energy精力; 活力; 干劲; 力量; 能源
bonanza发财的机遇; 兴盛; 繁荣
fossil fuels化石燃料; fossil fuel的复数
So fossil fuels and collective learning together explain the staggering complexity we see around us.
ps:因此化石燃料和集体学习一起解释了我们所看到的惊人的复杂性
fossil fuels化石燃料; fossil fuel的复数
together在一起; 共同; 以使接触; 到一起; 关系密切; 有婚姻关系; 自信而妥实的
explain解释; 说明; 阐明; 说明原因; 解释理由
staggering令人难以相信的; 摇摇晃晃地走; 蹒跚; 踉跄; 使震惊; 使大吃一惊; 使交错; 使错开; stagger的现在分词
complexity复杂性; 难懂; 难题; 难以理解的局势
Exercises:
1.what did he mean by DNA learns in a slow way?
DNA accumulates information through making random errors。
2.why did he set an example of humans migration?
to show humans' collection learning ability.
Fill in the blanks:
We are blessed with a language, a system of communication, so powerful and so precise that we can share what we've learned with such precisionthat it can accumulate in the collective memory.
Put the sentences into correct order:
DNA learns in a sense, it accumulates information. But it is so slow.DNA accumulates information through random errors, some of which just happen to work.But DNA had actually generated a faster way of learning: it had produced organisms with brains, and those organisms can learn in real time.They accumulate information, they learn.
Read and repeat the sentences:
1.We seem to be the only species in four billion years to have this gift.
2.DNA had produced organisms with brains, and those organisms can learn in real time.
3.Humans can store information through language while other organisms can't.
4.Then 10,000 years ago, exploiting a sudden change in global climate with the end of the last ice age, humans learned to farm.
5.Each migration involved learning -- learning new ways of exploiting the environment, new ways of dealing with their surroundings.
So , Here we are, back at the convention center.
ps:所以，我们到了，回到会议中心。
Here we are我们到了; 我们在这里; 所以我们才有缘相见
back背部，背; 腰背; 脊柱; 脊梁骨; 后部; 后面; 末尾; 背后的; 后面的; 后部的; 过去的; 旧时的; 到期未付的; 拖欠的; 向后; 在后; 在背面; 与有距离; 控制住; 忍住; 后退，倒退; 帮助; 支持; 下赌注于
convention习俗; 常规; 惯例; 大会，集会; 公约，协定，协议
center篮球中锋，中场手; 中心，中心区，中央，中枢，核心，中间派，中心站，中线; 集中，把……聚集在
We've been on a journey, a return journey, of 13.7 billion years.
I hope you agree this is a powerful story.
And it's a story in which humans play an astonishing and creative role.
But it also contains warnings.
Collective learning is a very, very powerful force, and it's not clear that we humans are in charge of it.
I remember very vividly as a child growing up in England, living through the Cuban Missile Crisis.
For a few days, the entire biosphere seemed to be on the verge of destruction.
ps:几天来，整个生物圈似乎处于毁灭的边缘。
a few几个; 〔反语〕很多; 一点点
days一天; 一日; 白昼; 白天; 工作日; 一天的活动时间; day的复数
entire全部的; 整个的; 完全的
biosphere生物圈
seemed好像，似乎，看来; 感到好像，觉得似乎; 看来好像; seem的过去分词和过去式
destruction摧毁; 毁灭; 破坏
And the same weapons are still here, and they are still armed.
If we avoid that trap, others are waiting for us.
We're burning fossil fuels at such a rate that we seem to be undermining the Goldilocks conditions that made it possible for human civilizations to flourish over the last 10,000 years.
ps:我们正在以如此之快的速度燃烧化石燃料，以至于我们似乎正在破坏过去一万年中人类文明得以繁荣昌盛的金发姑娘的生存条件。
burning强烈的; 极度的; 很重要的迫切问题; 当务之急; 火辣辣的; 灼热地; 燃烧; 烧; 着火; 烧着; 烧毁，烧坏，烧伤，烧死; burn的现在分词
fossil fuels化石燃料; fossil fuel的复数
seem to be好像; 看来; 似乎是
undermining逐渐削弱; 使逐步减少效力; 从根基处破坏; 挖…的墙脚; undermine的现在分词
Goldilocks金发姑娘; 金发姑娘，金凤花
possible可能; 能做到; 可能存在的; 合理的; 可接受的; 合适的人; 恰当人选
human人的; 显示人类特有弱点的; 人本性的; 有人情味的; 通人情的; 人
civilizations文明; 社会文明; 文明世界; 文明社会; civilization的复数
flourish繁荣; 昌盛; 兴旺; 茁壮成长; 健康幸福; 挥舞; 夸张动作; 给人深刻印象的行
So what big history can do is show us the nature of our complexity and fragility and the dangers that face us, but it can also show us our power with collective learning.
ps:所以，大历史能做的是向我们展示我们复杂性和脆弱性的本质以及我们面临的危险，但它也能通过集体学习向我们展示我们的力量。
So what那又怎么样，你管的着吗; 那又怎样; 那又怎么样
big大的，巨大的; 年龄较大的; 重大的; 严重的; 大大; 给人印象深地
history历史; 发展史，历史; 历史课; 历史学
nature自然界; 大自然; 自然; 自然方式; 天性; 本性; 性格
complexity复杂性; 难懂; 难题; 难以理解的局势
fragility脆弱；易碎性；虚弱；脆性
dangers危险; 风险; 可能性; 危险的人; 危险因素; 危害; 威胁; danger的复数
face脸; 面孔; 面部表情; 有…面容的; 有…表情的; 面对; 面向; 正对; 面临，必须对付; 承认，正视
power控制力; 影响力; 操纵力; 统治; 政权; 能力; 机会; 驱动，推动; 迅猛移动，快速前进
And now, finally , this is what I want.
I want my grandson, Daniel, and his friends and his generation, throughout the world, to know the story of big history, and to know it so well that they understand both the challenges that face us and the opportunities that face us.
And that's why a group of us are building a free, online syllabus in big history for high-school students throughout the world.
ps:这就是为什么我们一群人正在为全世界的高中生建立一个大历史上免费的在线教学大纲。
why为什么，为何; 何必; 为什么，…的原因; 哎呀，呦，哟，嗨; 原因;理由;说明;难解的问题
a group of一群
building建筑物; 房子; 楼房; 建筑; 建筑业; 建造; 创建; 开发; 逐渐增强; build的现在分词
online在线的; 联网的; 联机的
syllabus教学大纲
big大的，巨大的; 年龄较大的; 重大的; 严重的; 大大; 给人印象深地
history历史; 发展史，历史; 历史课; 历史学
students大学生; 研究生; 学生; 中学生; 研究者; 学者; student的复数
throughout the world全世界; 举世
We believe that big history will be a vital intellectual tool for them, as Daniel and his generation face the huge challenges and also the huge opportunities ahead of them at this threshold moment in the history of our beautiful planet.
ps:我们相信，对于他们来说，伟大的历史将是一个至关重要的智力工具，因为丹尼尔和他的这一代人在我们美丽星球的历史上的这一关头面临着巨大的挑战，也面临着巨大的机遇。
vital必不可少的; 对…极重要的; 生命的; 维持生命所必需的; 生气勃勃的; 充满生机的; 热情洋溢的
intellectual智力的; 脑力的; 理智的; 有才智的; 智力发达的; 知识分子; 脑力劳动者
Daniel正直的法官，有非常智慧的人；希伯来预言家; 丹尼尔
challenges挑战; 艰巨任务; 挑战书; 邀请，提议; 质询; 质疑; 提出异议; 对…怀疑; 拒绝接受; 向挑战; 强烈建议; 考查…的能力; 考验…的技巧; challenge的第三人称单数和复数
opportunities机会; 时机; opportunity的复数
ahead of在…前面; 早于; 领先
threshold门槛; 门口; 阈; 界; 起始点; 开端; 起点; 入门
in the history历史上的，有史以来的
planet行星; 地球
I thank you for your attention.
Exercises:
1.What will happen if the Goldilocks conditions are undermined?
Human civilization won't be able to continue.
2.why does he believe collective learning can be dangerous?
collective learning has the potential to be destructive.
3.why did he bring up the Cuban Missile Crisis?
to illustrate that humans are not fully in charged of collective learning.
4.According to Christian why is it important to know the story of big history?
to better understand the challenges we face
5.Christian believes that...
collective learning can be dangerous.
6.The tone of Christian's speech is...
encouraging but concerned.
Fill in the blanks：
Collective learning is a very, very powerful force, and it's not clear that we humans are in charge of it.
Put the sentences into correct order:
Collective learning is a very, very powerful force, and it's not clear that we humans are in charge of it. I remember very vividly as a child growing up in England, living through the Cuban Missile Crisis. For a few days, the entire biosphere seemed to be on the verge of destruction. And the same weapons are still here, and they are still armed. If we avoid that trap, others are waiting for us.
Read and repeat the sentences:
1.Collective learning is a very, very powerful force, and it's not clear that we humans are in charge of it.
2.For a few days, the entire biosphere seemed to be on the verge of destruction.
3.We believe that big history will be a vital intellectual tool for them, as Daniel and his generation face the huge challenges and also the huge opportunities ahead of them at this threshold moment in the history of our beautiful planet.