The earliest eon in Earth's history, characterized by extreme heat and volatility.
Earth formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from cloud debris around our young Sun, starting as a molten and turbulent planet.
Intense meteorite impacts shaped Earth's surface, contributing to the development of its crust and early oceans.
A period marked by Earth's first stable landforms and the emergence of simple life.
Primitive prokaryotic cells, likely bacteria, originated in ancient oceans, marking Earth's initial biological activity.
Earth’s crust stabilized enough to form continents, allowing for the subsequent evolution and diversification of life.
A critical period of atmosphere and climate changes, enabling more complex life to evolve.
Significant atmospheric oxygen accumulation due to photosynthesis by cyanobacteria transformed Earth's environments and ecosystems.
Eukaryotic organisms evolved into multicellular forms, enabling greater biological complexity and diversity.
The current eon, characterized by abundant fossil records showcasing diverse and complex life forms.
A period of rapid diversification and emergence of many animal phyla within ocean ecosystems.
Vertebrate organisms first evolved and diversified, giving rise to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
An era marked by significant biological diversification and ecological innovation, particularly expanding life from oceans to land.
The first geological period of the Paleozoic, notable for rapid evolutionary expansion in marine biodiversity.
Rapid appearance of complex organisms, including trilobites and early marine chordates.
The evolution of protective shells and exoskeletons allowed organisms to inhabit new ecological niches.
A period dominated by marine biodiversity, ending with an extensive extinction event.
Oceans hosted substantial biodiversity growth, including the first appearance of true fish.
Significant extinction of marine organisms occurred because of rapid glaciation events lowering sea levels.
A period noted for stabilization following mass extinction and early colonization of terrestrial habitats.
The initial emergence of primitive plants and arthropods onto land ecosystems.
Evolution of jawed fish enabled diversified feeding strategies in marine ecosystems.
Famously called the "Age of Fishes," this period saw significant diversification and the transition from aquatic to terrestrial vertebrates.
Extensive diversification of fish occurred, including the rise of bony fish and the earliest sharks.
Fish evolved adaptations enabling some species to live partially on land, leading to the first amphibians.
Characterized by dense tropical swamp forests eventually turned to extensive coal formations.
Abundant lush vegetation regions developed, later becoming the coal deposits humans utilize today.
The appearance of the earliest reptiles, setting the stage for future terrestrial dominance.
The final period of the Paleozoic, culminating in a catastrophic mass extinction.
Earth's landmasses combined into the supercontinent Pangaea, greatly altering global climate.
Earth experienced its largest mass extinction event, causing massive biodiversity loss, especially among marine species.
Known as the "Age of Reptiles," this era was dominated by dinosaurs and noted for the appearance of birds and flowering plants.
Characterized by recovery and radiation of life following the Permian extinction, marking the rise of dinosaurs.
Early dinosaurs evolved and diversified, gradually becoming dominant terrestrial organisms.
The first mammals emerged as small, typically nocturnal creatures living alongside early dinosaurs.
Noted for prominent dinosaurs and the evolved diversity of life forms, including marine reptiles.
Dinosaurs became dominant terrestrial vertebrates, illustrated by species such as Brachiosaurus and Stegosaurus.
Birds, represented by Archaeopteryx, evolved from theropod dinosaurs, bridging reptiles and modern avian species.
Noted for flowering plant evolution and ending abruptly with the dinosaurs' extinction.
The evolution of flowering plants significantly diversified terrestrial ecosystems and provided new ecological niches.
A catastrophic extinction event, likely triggered by an asteroid impact, erased nearly all dinosaur species.
Known as the "Age of Mammals," characterized by the flourishing and diversification of mammals into modern forms.
A period of adaptive radiation for mammals following dinosaur extinction, along with relatively warm global climates.
Mammals diversified quickly into numerous ecological niches, including primates and ancestral forms of modern groups.
Earth experienced warm, tropical climates which supported widespread and diverse forest ecosystems.
This period involved significant evolutionary progress towards more modern ecosystems and climates.
Early hominin species evolved, representing the first distinguished lineage leading to modern humans.
Global cooling promoted polar ice formation and the evolution of ecosystems adapted to cooler conditions.
Marked by repeated glaciations (ice ages) and significant developments in human evolution.
Climate characterized by cycles of advancing and retreating glaciers significantly impacting Earth's ecosystems.
Modern humans evolved and became increasingly dominant, developing complex societies, cultures, and technologies.
Contemporary Earth is defined by rapid global alteration driven primarily by human activity, climatic shifts, and biodiversity impacts.
A proposed epoch highlighting humanity's powerful impact on Earth's natural geological and ecological processes.
Human activities profoundly alter Earth's climate and ecosystems, prompting broad-scale global environmental changes.