Knowledge Web

Summary

James Burke’s Knowledge Web (K-Web) reimagines how we explore history, science, and innovation. Building on the associative storytelling of his Connections series, the K-Web lets users navigate a vast, interconnected network of historical figures, events, artifacts, and ideas.

Unlike traditional encyclopedias or timelines, the K-Web emphasizes the serendipitous nature of discovery. It encourages learners to think more connectively — tracing links across time and disciplines to see how unexpected combinations drive change. As Burke explains, innovation often happens in the no-man’s land between the disciplines, where unrelated elements converge to spark something new.

More than a history tool, the K-Web is a tool to prepare people for a world that is itself increasingly interconnected. It fosters curiosity, cross-disciplinary thinking, and — most importantly — a recognition that in an interconnected world, no individual is irrelevant.

In the heroic treatment, historical change is shown to have been generated by the genius of individuals, conveniently labelled “inventors”. In such a treatment, Edison invented the electric light, Bell the telephone, Gutenberg the printing press, Watt the steam engine, and so on. But no individual is responsible for producing an invention ex nihilo. The elevation of the single inventor to the position of sole creator at best exaggerates his influence over events, and at worst denies the involvement of those humbler members of society without whose work his task might have been impossible. James Burke

Key concepts

• Thinking connectively The K-Web encourages users to follow links across disciplines, eras, and domains — revealing how unexpected combinations, not linear progressions, often drive real change.
• Intersections drive innovation Innovation tends to emerge from the no-man’s land between the disciplines. By highlighting connections between seemingly unrelated people, events, and ideas, the K-Web shows how breakthroughs are born at the intersections of unrelated ideas.
• Serendipity as method The interface rewards curiosity. Moving through the web, users are exposed to surprising links that challenge assumptions and reveal how history, science, and culture are entangled.
• A tool for anticipating change By showing how change happened in the past, users build intuition for how it might happen in the future. The K-Web helps learners recognize patterns and anticipate innovation in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Knowledge Web offers more than just a new way to explore the past — it’s a model for how to think in the present. By tracing connections across disciplines, and showing how innovation often emerges from the unexpected, it helps learners build a mental framework for navigating a world shaped by complexity and change. In Burke’s words, it’s a way to “look for the unexpected connection” — and to understand that everyone, and everything, is part of the web.

This idea was originally developed by James Burke as part of the Knowledge Web project. More details can be found in his book The Knowledge Web.