So what is it?
The Basic Idea: Create an online program similar to Google Earth, but filled with historical data and a timeline slider so you can watch and learn how history unfolded across the Earth. Modern data could be added to it as well, such as where resources are located, how they are harvested, and where they are shipped.
Why this would be useful: As part of the "Curiosity and Gardens" philosophy, this would be all about the curiosity. An interactive map of Earth's history would give people a fun way to explore the past, leading to a better understanding of modern society and the various cultures in it.
But first, let's go into some more detail about how it would work and what it would look like. At its most basic level, it would essentially be Google maps with a timeline slider that would let you see how political boundaries have shifted over the years. Programs like this already exist, but why stop at political boundaries? We could build up from there and eventually plug in all known historical data. This would basically be like combining Wikipedia with Google maps to give us a one stop resource for understanding the past.
One of the most exciting features that could be added would be filters to let you watch how various things changed over the years. For example, language filters could show you how Latin evolved, or how English acquired words from other cultures. Technology filters could show you the spread of bronze working, gunpowder, or the electric grid. Just about anything could have a filter: laws, religions, foods, fashions, discoveries etc... This would allow users to learn about more than just typical history, such as science based on how our species discovered it, or pop culture trends based on how they moved around the world. It would help give voice to the people's history as well, and not just the "leaders and warfare" version that is often the focus of history texts. (Though the warfare aspect would be pretty interesting; imagine zooming right down to the beaches of Normandy and watching the D-Day invasion play out, then following those battalions through the liberation of France, concentration camps, and finally victory in Europe.)
The past is just the beginning. Setting the map up with all the historical data we can find would be an amazing accomplishment, but why not put the present in there too? Things like the weather and traffic would be a good start, and news stories could pop up with bubbles pointing to where the story takes place. Viewing the news like this would help people see the big picture and not just the slices the various news outlets want to show. (Once some time has passed theses stories would become history anyway, and go into the "past" part of the map system. Even weather would be good for this. How cool would it be to see the global weather patterns over long stretches of time? You could start with today and rewind things to the last big storm you remember, and then follow that storm's system and see where it ended up. Or maybe figure out what hurricane Katrina is up to these days. I'm willing to bet this could shed some light on climate change for non-scientist folks, or at the very least, teach people more about how weather works.)
Other useful "present day" data would be locations of resources and how they are harvested and shipped. The essay about the "World Bank System" goes into more detail about this, but the general point is you could look at the map of Earth and know where the wood for your house or steel in your car came from, and how much more can be safely harvest from that location. The electrical grid could have its own filter as well, showing you where your energy comes from, and when the power goes out you could see where the break is and an estimate from the repair crew on when it will be fixed.
And the future. Finally, there could even be aspects of the future added in the map system. For example, if there is an empty lot in your city you could see the various proposed ideas for what should go there. Census data trends could be included to show how populations may move over the next few years. Resource data could show when certain lakes might dry up, or forests become depleted. Giving common people access to this kind of foresight would make it much easier for them to be involved with the changes that happen to their world before it is too late for their voice to be heard.
In the end, the map system could have an endless variety of uses. At its most basic it would be a much more interesting and interactive way to learn about how the planet and its various civilizations got to the present day. At its most ambitious, it could be a sort of "second internet," linking all the world with a unified view of the planet we all share.
Progress: It turns out there is already work being done at Wikipedia for what they're calling a Grand Unified Timeline. This is essentially the same idea as the Earth Map System, just without the map part. Let's get to work!
Grand Unified Timeline
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