Geography · GCSE · Resources & Environment

The Anthropocene

The AnthropoceneFree11:46Heddy Score 3 of 7, below the standard

What you need to know

  • The Anthropocene is a proposed, still unofficial name for a time when human activity changes the planet as much as natural forces do.
  • Population growth, fossil-fuel energy and global connections have raised living standards for billions of people.
  • The same changes drive climate change, faster species extinction and a widening gap between rich and poor.
  • Economic development tends to slow population growth, but cheap, dirty fuels can make environmental damage worse.
  • Whether the Anthropocene is a story of progress depends on weighing these benefits against the costs.

In this clip

Runs 11:46, from 0:00 to 11:46 of the full video.

Heddy Score3/7, Below the standard
See the seven stars
  • Trusted source · passed. The creator's own upload, live and playable here.
  • On the map · not judged yet. A teacher watched it: it mainly teaches this map topic.
  • Spec-true · not judged yet. Accurate, and right for the current UK specification.
  • Focused · passed. One idea, short enough to watch in one go.
  • Accessible · passed. Good captions, clear sound and pictures.
  • Safe for children · not judged yet. Right for 11 to 16 year olds, with no sales pitch.
  • Proven · not judged yet. Earned from our students: they learn from it, find it helpful and watch it to the end.
★ passed · ☆ pending · ✕ failed
Our students

Not enough students yet

Our own students' answers. These are what move ★7 Proven.
On YouTube

1.27M views · 20.4K likes · CrashCourse 17.3M subscribers

As reported by YouTube on 2026-11-02. Not part of the Heddy Score.
How the Heddy Score works

Why we picked it

Sets out the case for and against an 'age of humans' as a balanced list of pros and cons that students can turn into an argument.

CrashCourse on YouTubechecked 2026-10-22

Plays from youtube-nocookie.com. No YouTube cookies until you press play.