Star formation through cosmic space and time as traced by Milky Way progenitors

In this work the close relation between cosmic star formation and the properties of galaxies is investigated in terms of feedback processes acting through cosmic space and time. Stars not only shape the chemical composition of the galactic ISM by enriching the surrounding gas with metals but the transfer of their ionizing radiation also changes the temperature and ionization status of the interstellar and intergalactic medium. Successive generations of galaxies evolve in redshift regulated by chemical and radiative feedback processes acting between cosmic environments. By adopting the recent semi-analytical model of galaxy formation GAMESH [1,5] we explore how chemical and radiative feedback act through cosmic times and connect the current generation of galaxies with their candidate progenitors as suggested by a series of recent observations.