Eras

Ages of the world.

From the Big Bang to the future — seventeen eras that organise everything else. Click into any age to see the events, figures, and turning points within it.

Universe

1 era

13.8 Bya – 9 Bya

The Cosmic Dawn

From the Big Bang to the first galaxies and stars.

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Earth

1 era

4.6 Bya – 4.0 Bya

Formation of Earth

Our solar system condenses; the young Earth forms, is struck, and cools.

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Life

3 eras

4.0 Bya – 2.5 Bya

First Life

Single-celled life emerges; oxygen begins to accumulate.

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2.5 Bya – 66 Mya

Complex Life

Multicellular life, the Cambrian explosion, and the age of dinosaurs.

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66 Mya – 7 Mya

Age of Mammals

After the asteroid, mammals diversify. Primates emerge.

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Humans

3 eras

7 Mya – 300 kya

Human Ancestors

Hominins split from other apes. Tool use emerges. Homo erectus walks far.

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300 kya – 12 kya

Rise of Homo Sapiens

Our species emerges, develops language, art, and spreads across the world.

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10,000 – 3,000 BCE

Neolithic Revolution

Agriculture, villages, domestication. The first cities appear.

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Civilisation

4 eras

3,300 – 1,200 BCE

Bronze Age

First great civilisations: Sumer, Egypt, Indus, Shang China.

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800 BCE – 500 CE

Classical Antiquity

Greece, Rome, Persia, Han China, Mauryan India — the classical world.

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500 – 1500 CE

Medieval World

Byzantium, Islamic Golden Age, Tang & Song China, feudal Europe.

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1500 – 1800 CE

Early Modern Era

Renaissance, exploration, Reformation, Enlightenment, revolutions.

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Modern

4 eras

1800 – 1914 CE

Industrial Age

Steam, railways, electricity, empire and a rewired world.

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1914 – 1945 CE

Age of World Wars

Two total wars, revolutions, and the end of empires.

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1945 – 1991 CE

Cold War & Post-War

Superpower rivalry, decolonisation, space race.

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1991 – 2025 CE

Information Age

Internet, globalisation, smartphones, AI.

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Future

1 era

2025 – ∞

The Future

AI, climate, space colonisation, and what may come.

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