This list is under construction: the eventual aim is for it to be a compendium of names of eras and epochs in all fields of study
To do:
- periods should have approximate dates added in the format (start - finish)
- lists should be in chronological order of the start of their period.
See also List of timelines for a list of timelines in general.
| Table of contents |
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2 Geologic time periods 3 Human time periods |
The cosmological timescale is the longest imaginable. It covers the entire
extent of the universe - many billions of years. A short first period is
measured in tiny fractions of seconds, but thereafter most things happen
on the scale of billion years. It is used to consider events noticeable
on a universal scale, such as the formation of matter, stars, and
galaxies.
The geologic timescale covers the extent of the existence of Earth, from
about 4600 million years ago to the present day. It is used to consider
the formation and change of the Earth itself, and large-scale changes
in the planet's inhabitants.
Dates are given as Millions of Years Ago (MYA).
Cosmological time periods
Geologic time periods
| Eon | Era | Period | Epoch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Precambrian (4600-544 MYA)
|
The Paleocene, the Eocene, and the Oligocene are also collectively known as the Paleogene. The Miocene and the Pliocene are also collectively known as the Neogene.
These names differ across different countries; in particular, the division of the Carboniferous period into Mississippian and Pennsylvanian is purely a North American distinction.
The "human" timescale covers the time that humans have existed, usually
taken to be from about 250,000 years ago - when Homo Sapiens began to develop.
It is broadly divided into prehistorical (before history began to be recorded)
and historical periods (when written records began to be kept).
Human prehistory is usually divided by stages in development. However, different
parts of the world entered these developmental stages at different times, so
it is impossible to put firm dates on these periods.
There are many fields which have their own associated historical periods.
These include:
Not yet in any particular order
Human time periods
Calendar systems
Human prehistorical periods
Human historical periods
Specialist human periods
