world history / big deal
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world history
The entire history of humanity on Earth, including all cultures, eras, and global connections.
Die Erfindung des Buchdrucks hat den Lauf der Weltgeschichte nachhaltig verändert.
The invention of the printing press permanently changed the course of world history.
big deal
Colloquially, and often exaggerating, used for an event to which exaggerated importance is attached.
Mach doch aus einer kleinen Meinungsverschiedenheit nicht gleich die Weltgeschichte!
Don't make such a big deal out of a small disagreement!
The word is a simple compound of 'die Welt' (the world) and 'die Geschichte' (history). So it literally means the history of the whole world.
Manche Erfindungen haben die Weltgeschichte für immer verändert.
Some inventions have changed world history forever.
In the historical meaning, the word is often used in fixed phrases, for example 'in die Weltgeschichte eingehen' (to go down in world history) or 'den Lauf der Weltgeschichte verändern' (to change the course of world history).
Mit seiner Entdeckung ist er in die Weltgeschichte eingegangen.
With his discovery, he went down in world history.
The colloquial meaning is often used in the expression 'eine Weltgeschichte aus etwas machen' (to make a big deal out of something). It means that someone is making a small problem unnecessarily complicated or important.
Er hat nur seinen Stift verloren, aber er macht eine Weltgeschichte daraus.
He only lost his pen, but he's making a big deal out of it.
history of humanity
Weltgeschichte and Menschheitsgeschichte both deal with the past of humanity. Weltgeschichte focuses particularly on cultures, eras, and their global connections. Menschheitsgeschichte, by contrast, emphasizes the development of humanity from its beginnings to the present day.
Der Kurs zur Weltgeschichte zeigt, wie verschiedene Kulturen einander beeinflusst haben.
The world history course shows how different cultures have influenced one another.
Der Kurs zur Menschheitsgeschichte zeigt die Entwicklung der Menschen von ihren Anfängen bis heute.
The history of humanity course shows the development of people from their beginnings to the present day.
