EARTH HISTORY

By 333username333
  • Period: 4600 BCE to 540 BCE

    Precambian

    Geological events: volcanic activity, formation of the moon, 1st ocean, 1st sedimentary rocks, 1st continent (Rodinia). Climate events: meteoric bombardment that delayed crustal formation, global glaciation.
  • 4000 BCE

    Moon formation

  • 2030 BCE

    1st forms of unicelular life

    Cyanobacteria were the first life forms to appear on Earth. They contain chlorophyll, which allows them to photosynthesise. Thanks to them, the atmosphere changed from being reducing to oxidising.
  • 1700 BCE

    1st most complex life forms

    The first invertebrate eukaryotic organisms appear.
  • 700 BCE

    Global glaciation

  • Period: 540 BCE to 250 BCE

    Paleozoic

    Geological events: creation of the continent Pangea 1, which broke apart to re-unite to form Pangea 2. Volcanism and two orogenies. Climate events: two ice ages.
  • 440 BCE

    Fish age

    Fish were the first vertebrate animals in the history of the Earth.
  • 400 BCE

    1st land plants

    The first plants to colonise the continents were gymnosperms, characterised by the fact that their seeds are not protected by a fruit.
  • 350 BCE

    Amphibian age

    Amphibians were the first vertebrate animals to surface. They were the dominant species for about 100m.y until reptiles appeared.
  • 250 BCE

    Age of reptiles

    Reptiles replaced amphibians as the dominant species, spread across the globe and evolved into many different species.
  • Period: 250 BCE to 65 BCE

    Mesozoic

    Geological events: Pangea fractures and the Atlantic Ocean is created. Climate events: climate change caused by rising temperatures and CO2 caused a mass extinction. There were no ice ages.
  • 140 BCE

    1st angiosperm plants

    Angiosperms are the first flowering and fruiting plants.
  • 65 BCE

    Mass extinction

    Due to rising temperatures and CO2 levels.
  • Period: 65 BCE to 1 CE

    Cenozoic

    Geological events: the fragments of Pangea continued to break apart until they reached their present position. Climate events: human-caused climate change.
  • 60 BCE

    Age of birds and mammals

    Because of the extinction of the dinosaurs, mammals and birds were able to evolve and replace reptiles as the dominant species on the planet.
  • 12 BCE

    1st hominids

    First hominids evolved from a common ancestor among today's great apes.
  • 1 BCE

    Homosapiens