The Anthropocene Epoch: When Humans Changed the World

As we hear more and more about deforestation, species extinctions, pollution, and climate change, some people may wonder how we got here. Some may wonder what is being done about those things. Some people may even wonder what all the fuss is really about.

In The Anthropocene Epoch, we will examine how humankind has altered the character of our home—planet Earth—over the last 10,000 years. We will take a brief tour through the many ways in which we have dramatically improved our standard of living and made life much easier for most people around the world in just a few centuries, even in the last few decades.

We will also examine how our growing numbers are putting a strain on Earth’s ecosystems. Human development, consumption, and waste are putting our unprecedented standard of living at risk. In response, many individuals, small businesses, and large corporations are adapting to our changing world, providing hope for our children’s future.

The Anthropocene Epoch illustrates how we (humankind) have changed our world, and how we have the ability to preserve it, if we will.