In the universe of time

The history of human development

The Universe of Time was created in the year 2000 and covers an area of 2,500 square metres; it is based strictly on original documents and was planned in collaboration with a team of historians and archaeologists. Your journey through the past, present and future of living takes you through unique, true-to-life settings.

The climate changes depending on the era or region - it might be warm or even hot like in the tropics, or it can be cool and damp. Typical odours create an all-round authentic experience - sure to be unforgettable for visitors of all ages. Time to set off on an exciting journey through time from Ancient Egypt and into the future.

The Stone Age - the cradle of humanity

Your journey through time begins in the prehistoric era and transports you all the way back to the earliest and longest epoch of human history. It began in Africa around 2.5 to 3 million years ago and continued until the end of the Ice Age, which was about 8,000 years ago.

You will encounter a caveman from the Neolithic period, which lasted from 5000 to 4000 B.C. What you can see is the most popular notion of a Stone Age cave: it is dark, damp, and cold. But did you realise that these damp, cold, underground stone grottos never had the function of permanent dwellings? It was only at their entrances that our ancestors sought protection against predatory animals, the rain, and the bitter winter cold. The people learned early on how to build wooden huts, and later, houses. This meant that they were no longer forced to shelter in such damp stone niches. Cold-resistant pine and birch trees evolved after the last Ice Age, and hazels also become more widespread, followed by oak, elm, linden and beech trees.

Advanced civilisation of the Pharaohs and the pyramids

Meet the most famous names from Ancient Egypt, such as Cheops, the builder of the famed Cheops pyramid in Giza, who lived in around 2530 B.C., or Tutankhamun, who became king at the early age of ten years and died at the age of 20 after reigning for no longer than ten years.

Ramses II, was the builder of the famous Abu Simbel temples. And Cleopatra VII was the last queen of the Ancient Egyptian royal dynasties. You will encounter the death cult of the Egyptians in the imitation sarcophagi of Tutankhamun and the mummy of Ramses. Both Ramses and Tutankhamun are examples of the notion that a person lives on in the art and architecture that he leaves behind for posterity.

Rulers and tenants in the Roman Empire

Meet Emperor Nero in Ancient Rome. Embark on a journey through time to ancient Rome and the reign of Emperor Nero. The Roman Empire had by now seen better days, not to mention more merciful rulers.

Emperor Nero, who ruled from 54 - 68 A.D., was an obsessed despot. In the year 65 A.D., when several districts of Rome were burning down, Nero diverted the suspicion of arson to the hated Christians, as a result of which they were cruelly persecuted. In 68 A.D., uprisings in Gaul and Spain led to Nero committing suicide. In the Universe of Time, you will witness Nero in a grand hall while the city is burning behind him.

Dark, dank, and smoky - life in the Middle Ages

The next jump in time takes you to the inside of a medieval castle room, how it might have been built between 1000 and 1400 A.D.

Notwithstanding all the differences between the various types of building, the majority of the castles, palaces, town houses and farmsteads had one thing in common - they were dark and dank and stank of smoke. This was because compared to today, what few window openings they had were very small. To protect the room from the wind and the cold, these were covered with oiled canvas cloths or animal skins, which, however, kept most of the daylight out of the interior.

Between camels, sand and oases

Visit the Bedouin of the desert regions and discover how people still manage to live a dignified life despite their hostile environment. The Bedouin are nomadic camel breeders who live in the desert regions of Arabia and live in rectangular tents made from woven goat hair.

The goat hair fabric is spread out over several rows, supported by wooden posts, tied with cords and pegged to the ground. The fabric provides protection against the sun, while in the event of rain, the fibres swell, and the fabric becomes waterproof. Interestingly, being made of wooden posts and fabric, they can be conveniently transported by camel.

Delightful dwellings under the stars

Are you curious about how the people in the South Sea Islands live? The answer is: in lofty heights! Their wooden tree houses functioned as a refuge in times of war, and even today they still offer protection from wild animals. A ladder made from bamboo and lianas leads up to the tree house, in which several families usually live. The roof is covered in palm fronds, while the side walls are sealed with bamboo.

However, the main dwelling, also made of wood, is at the foot of the tree. This is where the people normally live in times of peace. The house in the Universe of Time is furnished with old, European furniture and all kinds of odds and ends taken from ships. Do you remember the story of the Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures in the South Seas?

Is there any wood in space?

The future, which you will encounter at the end of your time journey, has in part already begun. The space station you see is of a similar size to the present-day International Space Station (ISS).

Several states are currently working on plans for a so-called space hotel. For future generations, visiting space for an extended period is bound to be an adventure. How it might appear to them you can see in the Universe of Time - however it is just a vision, pure speculation. It involves a great deal of high-tech and plenty of computers. And if there is one material that is sure to still be of great importance in the future, it is wood. The ancient building material that has accompanied humanity since its beginnings and enabled us a way of life, warmth, and adaptability.

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