The Millennium that Defined Earth
			
		
		
		
			When the 
second millennium began, people generally knew that the 
Earth was round, but few saw much of it beyond their local village.  
As the millennium progressed, humans 
mapped the continents, 
circumnavigated the globe, and determined the 
composition of the Earth.  
The Earth started as the 
center of everything, but became a planet placed in the 
Solar System, which became placed in a 
Galaxy, which became placed in the 
Local Group of Galaxies, 
which became placed in an expanse so vast we call it just the 
Universe.  
As millennium two  
ends 
people generally know what 
Earth looks like from afar, 
and how it is that all of 
humanity is confined to the surface of this 
fragile and watery globe.