2023 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Introduction to History of the Earth
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Akira Ishikawa / Kazumi Ozaki
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (I3-107(I311)) / 5-6 Thu (I3-107(I311))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A203
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course will examine the history of the Earth and life. In the chapter "Hadean", origin of the planet and the formation of the atmosphere and ocean will be examined. In the chapter "Archean", record of Earth's early biological activities and basics of geology and tectonics will be examined. In the chapter "Proterozoic" onset of oxygenic photosynthesis, redox evolution, and continental growth will be examined. In the chapter "Phanerozoic", appearance of metazoan, mass extinction and climate change will be examined.
Course description and aims
Understand the history of the Earth from the planet formation to present. Learn basic concepts of various geosciences for decoding Earth's history. Understand what is the evidence for several key hypothesis. Also, this course will provide information for choosing further specific research field in geosciences.
Keywords
History of the Earth and Life
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Student should submit attendance report every time as well as final report at the end of this course.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: Geologic Time Scale |
Understand phenomena occurred in various geologic time scale. |
| Class 2 | Planet Formation and Differentiation |
Understand how the Earth formed and differentiated |
| Class 3 | The Oldest Rock Records |
Understand the initial state of the Earth |
| Class 4 | Formation of Archean Craton |
Understand how to decode geological records on the Archean rocks |
| Class 5 | Continental Growth and Orogeny 1 |
Understand basics of igneous processes and |
| Class 6 | Continental Growth and Orogeny 2 |
Understand basics of metamorphcic processes and concept of orogney |
| Class 7 | Hotspot and Mantle plume |
Understand mantle dynamics of Earth's interior |
| Class 8 | Evolution of Earth's atmosphere and ocean |
Understand how the atmosphere and ocean evolved |
| Class 9 | Great Oxidation Event |
Learn how the atmosphere and ocean were oxygenated |
| Class 10 | Snowball Earth |
Learn climatic upheavals in the geological past |
| Class 11 | Co-evolution of Life and Environment |
Learn the relationships between life and the environment |
| Class 12 | Mass Extinction Events |
Learn "Big Five" mass extinction events in the Phanerozoic |
| Class 13 | Anthropocene and Future prediction |
Understand the causes of climate change |
| Class 14 | Astrobiology |
Learn the concept of Astrobiology |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Geochemistry, Sadao Matsuo
History of life and Earth, Shigenori Maruyama, Yukio Isozaki
Evaluation methods and criteria
Student performance will be assessed by attendance report or small test every time (50%) and by final report (50%).
Related courses
- EPS.A334 ： Biogeoscience
- EPS.A202 ： Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences
- EPS.A201 ： Introduction to Material Sciences of Earth and Planet
Prerequisites
None