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Learning from the Past, Acting for the Future

​Across millennia, human societies have adapted to change, forged new connections, and shaped the world we live in today. The Ages of Globalization invites learners on an immersive journey through humanity’s shared history — tracing seven ages of globalization through the lens of geography, technology, and institutions — to better understand the forces that continue to shape our interconnected world.

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Through visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dialogues with world leaders and experts, and a wide range of interactive learning experiences, the initiative empowers learners to explore the roots of global systems — and to connect that historical knowledge with the challenges we face today. From ancient aqueducts and empires to digital networks and climate negotiations, each experience becomes a window into how the past informs the present — and how we can help build a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable future.

Explore the Program

The Ages of Globalization is designed for a global audience — students ages 14 and up, educators, and lifelong learners eager to deepen their understanding of global history and take action for sustainable development.

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To support a wide range of learning contexts and goals, the course is built around two complementary learning pathways:

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Self-Paced Learning Journey

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Live Global Dialogues

The core curriculum includes 28 classes:

  • The first 6 offer foundational content on globalization and global change, covering core concepts like geography, technological evolution, institutional development, and today’s most pressing global challenges.

  • The next 18 delve into the seven ages of globalization, from the Paleolithic Age to the Digital Age — each offering insights into historical patterns of transformation and interdependence.

  • The final 4 classes explore 21st-century challenges, including ending poverty, protecting the environment, and fostering global cooperation and peace.

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Each class includes:

  • 60–75 minutes of video-based lectures, divided into approximately 5 thematic chapters.

  • 60–120 minutes of learner-centered activities part of a comprehensive lesson plan.

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Learners and educators can customize their journey by choosing the classes and activities most relevant to their goals.

 

All materials are freely accessible. Participants can browse the contents on this page or enroll through the AoG learning management platform (as a learner or educator) to track their progress and receive a certificate of completion signed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs.​​

Each month, learners and educators are invited to UN at Your Doorstep, a live global dialogue series connecting the course to real-world leadership, global challenges, and youth-led action for the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Topics reflect the most urgent and complex issues of our time, including:

  • Climate and environmental resilience

  • Social inclusion, equity, and justice

  • Peacebuilding, global ethics, and cooperation

  • Digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the future of sustainability

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These virtual sessions feature:

  • 45 minutes of preparatory learning resources, including background on the issue, featured speakers, SDG context, systems thinking tools, and learner research.

  • 60-minute live dialogue with world leaders and youth advocates, moderated by young people and grounded in dialogue as a pedagogy for peace, inclusion, and mutual understanding.

  • 45 minutes of follow-up learning resources, with classroom activities, creative expression, and community action projects.

​​​​On select occasions, participants can also embark on virtual journeys to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offered in partnership with Globe From Home, to explore history, culture, and sustainability in immersive, globally connected ways.

Eight Big Questions

Throughout the journey, learners are invited to engage with eight guiding questions that connect past and present, deepen critical understanding, and inspire bold thinking for a sustainable and peaceful future:

  1. ​​What are the main drivers of global-scale change?

  2. How do geography, technology, and institutions interact?

  3. How do changes in one region affect other regions?

  4. How has global interdependence changed throughout history?

  5. What lessons can we glean from each age of globalization to help us meet our challenges today?

  6. How can the world in the 21st century achieve prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability in this 7th age of globalization? 

  7. How should our global governance be reorganized to achieve sustainable development in our multipolar world?

  8. How can we secure global peace possible, and how can global ethics help to secure peace?

Learning Outcomes

Building on the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives, the program intends to foster 3 key learning outcomes: ​​​

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  • Understand sustainability challenges and their complex interlinkages, explore disruptive ideas and alternative solutions

  • Build core values and attitudes for sustainability, cultivate empathy and compassion for other people and the planet, and motivate to lead the change

  • Take practical action for sustainable transformations in the personal, societal and political sphere​​​​​​​

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Detailed learning objectives are provided for each of the 28 classes. Take a look at Lesson Plan Class 1 and Lesson Plan Class 2 for more information. The learning objectives have been customized for grade band level, with work done by the research team at Mission 4.7 Secretariat.​ 

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Course Contents

Course Contents

Foundations of Globalization (Classes 1–6)

Explore the forces shaping our interconnected world and why understanding history and globalization matter for sustainable development.
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Introduction to the
Ages of Globalization

Class 01

The Seven Ages of Globalization

Class 02

The Environment as Home and Shaper of Economy

Class 03

2 Million Years of Technological Advancement

Class 04

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Institutions and
How We Live

Class 05

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Our Great Challenges
Today

Class 06

The Seven Ages of Globalization (Classes 7–23)

Travel through 70,000 years of human history across seven pivotal ages.

Paleolithic Age

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The Paleolithic Age

70,000 – 10,000 BCE

Class 07

Neolithic Age

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The Neolithic Age
10,000 – 3,000 BCE

Class 08

Equestrian Age

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The Equestrian Age
3,000 – 1,000 BCE

Class 09

Classical Age

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The Classical Age – West
1,000 BCE – 1,500 CE

Class 10

Classical Age

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The Classical Age – East

1,000 – 1,500 CE

Class 11

Classical Age

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The Axial Age of East and West: 800 – 300 BCE 

Class 12

Classical Age

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The Emergence of Islam
620 CE  

Class 13

Ocean Age

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The Holy Roman Empire

 800 – 1806 CE

Class 14

Ocean Age

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The Birth of Global Empires
1400-1600

Class 15

Ocean Age

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The Religious Wars
of Europe 1500-1700

Class 16

Ocean Age

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Competition Among European Empires

Class 17

Industrial Age

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The Age of Enlightenment and Western Technological Leadership

Class 18

Industrial Age

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The Industrial Revolution

Class 19

Industrial Age

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The Rise of the US

to Global Predominance

Class 20

Industrial Age

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The New Multilateralism after World War II

Class 21

Industrial Age

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The Post-Colonial World: Post-1950

Class 22

Digital Age

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The Digital Age 
2000-current

Class 23

21st Century Challenges and Solutions (Classes 24–28)

Examine today’s global challenges and explore pathways toward a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful future.
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Continuities and Change Across the Ages:

Four Case Studies

Class 24

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Great Challenges:
Ending Poverty

Class 25

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Great Challenges:
Saving the Environment

Class 26

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The Future of Work, Technology, Living Patterns, and Politics

Class 27

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The World in 2050: Building the Future We Want

Class 28

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