World is a highly common name for the planet Earth, but it was originally used to mean the sum of human civilization living on it, specifically human experience, history, or the 'human condition' in general.[2]
In a metaphysical context, World may refer to the Universe, everything that constitutes reality: see World (philosophy).
Some authors, such as Carl Sagan, use the term worlds to refer to planets and moons collectively.
Contents
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• 1 Etymology
• 2 Usage
• 3 Earth
• 4 Humanity
• 5 Development
• 6 See also
• 7 References
• 8 External links

[edit]Etymology
In English, the etymology of world may be a compound of the obsolete words like a compound of elements for example were meaning man and eld meaning age; thus, its etymology would be semantically rendered as "age or life of man".[3] Compare to the word for "world" in a closely related language to English, Dutch, which is "wereld" and German which is "Welt", but itself a shortening of weralt (wer and alt) [4]
[edit]Usage
'World' distinguishes the entire planet or population from any particular country or region: world affairs are those which pertain not just to one place but to the whole world, and world history is a field of history which examines events from a global (rather than a national or a regional) perspective. Earth, on the other hand, refers to the planet as a physical entity, and distinguishes it from other planets and physical objects.
'World' can also be used attributively, as an adjective, to mean 'global', 'relating to the whole world', forming usages such as World community. See World (adjective). Or the body of humanity, as in the original meaning.
By extension, a 'world' may refer to any planet or heavenly body, especially when it is thought of as inhabited.
'World', in its original sense, when qualified, can also refer to a particular domain of human experience.
 The world of work describes paid work and the pursuit of a career, in all its social aspects, to distinguish it from home life and academicstudy.
 The fashion world describes the environment of the designers, fashion houses and consumers that make up the fashion industry.
 The New World is a part of the world discovered or colonized by Europeans later than other parts; it usually refers to the Americancontinents or to Australia. Native Americans and Native Australians tend to dislike this usage because it implies that their pre-Columbian ancestors were not valid parts of the world. The Old World refers, by contrast, to the continents of Europe, Asia and north Africa.
 "World of hurt."
[edit]Earth
Main article: Earth
Earth is the only place in the universe where life is known by humanity to exist at this time. Most scientific evidence indicates that the planet formed 4.6 billion years ago,[5][6][7][8] and life appeared on its surface within a billion years. Since then, Earth's biosphere has significantly altered the atmosphere and other abiotic conditions on the planet, enabling the proliferation of aerobic organisms as well as the formation of theozone layer which, together with Earth's magnetic field, blocks harmful radiation, permitting life on land.[9]
Earth's outer surface is divided into several rigid segments, or tectonic plates, that gradually migrate across the surface over periods of many millions of years. About 71% of the surface is covered with salt-water oceans, the remainder consisting of continents and islands; liquid water, necessary for all known life, is not known to exist on any other planet's surface.[10][11] Earth's interior remains active, with a thick layer of relatively solid mantle, a liquid outer core that generates a magnetic field, and a solid iron inner core.
The earth consists of seven continents listed as follows: North America, South America, Antarctica, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia; the largest of which is Asia. There are several other methods of determining the continents.
Earth is impacted upon by other objects in outer space, including the Sun and the Moon. At present, Earth orbits the Sun once for every roughly 365.26 times it rotates about its axis. This length of time is a sidereal year, which is equal to 365.26 solar days.[12] The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.4° away from the perpendicular to its orbital plane,[13] producing seasonal variations on the planet's surface with a period of one tropical year (365.24 solar days). Earth's only known natural satellite, the Moon, which began orbiting it about 4.53 billion years ago, provides ocean tides, stabilizes the axial tilt and gradually slows the planet's rotation. A cometary bombardment during the early history of the planet played a role in the formation of the oceans.[14] Later, asteroid impacts caused significant changes to the surface environment.
[edit]Humanity
Further information: Human and World population
Humans are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens. Compared to other animals, humans have a relatively highly developed brain capable of abstract reasoning, language, and introspection. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees their upper limbs for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species. DNA evidence indicates that modern humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago.[15] Humans now inhabit every continent and low Earth orbit, with a total population of over 6.73 billion humans as of January 2009.[16]
Like most primates, humans are social by nature. However, humans are particularly adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from families to nations. Social interactions between humans have established an extremely wide variety of traditions, rituals, ethics, values, social norms, and laws which form the basis of human society. Humans have a marked appreciation for beauty and aesthetics which, combined with the human desire for self-expression, has led to cultural innovations such as art, literature and music.
Humans are noted for their desire to understand and influence the world around them, seeking to explain and manipulate natural phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills.
[edit]Development
A summary of world development:
 The universe is continuing its metric expansion.
 Our galaxy is approaching its neighbor.
 The Sun is shining brighter and brighter.
 Species are becoming fewer.
 Humans are increasing in number.
 Human life expectancy, literacy, education, standard of living, and GDP per capita are increasing.
 Technology and socioculture are also developing.


A
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa

Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba

Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan






B
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados

Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin

Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria

Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Burundi







C
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde

Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile

China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia

Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville
Congo- Kinshasa
Cook Islands

Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Croatia
Cuba

Cyprus
Czech Republic