The first ten thousand million years

The development of the universe following the Big Bang is characterized. With regard to present day physics it may be divided into four periods: the era of radiation (0 - 700 000 years), the era of matter (700 000 - 3x109 years), the era of life (3x109 years to our time), the era of social systems (the last geological second). The most important characteristics are described of these periods. The origin of life from the physics point of view may be explained using synergetics. The physical aspects of social systems and the possible uniqueness of life in the universe are discussed. (Ha)