History of the Earth

By Eaia
  • 4600 BCE

    Formation of the Sun

    Formation of the Sun
    Aproximately 4.600 Ma (million years ago), a cloud made up of gases and dusts in space collapsed between them due to gravity, creating the Sun. This phenomenon is called solar nebula.
  • 4600 BCE

    Hadean Eon

    Hadean Eon
    This eon started 4600 Ma
  • Period: 4600 BCE to 541 BCE

    Precambrian Supereon

    This supereon lasted form more or less from 4600 million years to 541 million years ago, this era included three eons named: Hadean, Archaean and Proterozoic.
    During this era, the most significant events were: Formation of Earth and Moon, Increasing of amount of oxigen, Formation and movement of the Tectonic plates, Periods of extreme ice ages and Aparition of Stromatolites.
  • Period: 4600 BCE to 4000 BCE

    Hadean Eon

    The Hadean Eon, that is the Earth's oldest period, lasts from the planet's formation about 4.55 billion years ago to 4.0-3.8 billion years ago.
    During this time, Earth began from a gas and dust cloud, then its crust began to solidify. The oldest known rocks were found in this era, named Acasta gneiss. Including the Late Heavy Bombardment.
    Though complex life forms didn't exist, replicating biomolecules likely existed, leading to the universal common ancestor and the emergence of life.
  • 4543 BCE

    Formation of the Earth

    Formation of the Earth
    4543 Ma, after a supernova (explosion of an star), the remains of this explosion collide together making up the Earth.
  • 4530 BCE

    Formation of the Moon

    Formation of the Moon
    4530 Ma, after the creation of the Earth, it collided with a meteorite of the size of Mars called THEIA. The broken pieces and remains formed a satelite near the Earth, called Moon.
  • 4000 BCE

    Archaean Eon

    Archaean Eon
    This eon began 4000 Ma
  • Period: 4000 BCE to 2500 BCE

    Archaean Eon

    The Archaic Era spanned 1.3 billion years, divided into Early, Middle, and Late periods.
    It included the formation of Earth's first continents and expansion of oceans. Cratones were found in this period.
    Also life emerged, including multicellular organisms and early vertebrates.
    Oxygen levels were low, volcanic and tectonic activity shaped continents through movements on the crust.
    Continents suffered significant transformations in size and shape during this dynamic geological era.
  • 2500 BCE

    Proterozoic Eon

    Proterozoic Eon
    This eon started 2500 Ma
  • Period: 2500 BCE to 541 BCE

    Proterozoic Eon

    The Proterozoic era (2500–541 Ma) included:

    Paleoproterozoic (2500 - 1600 Ma) saw the creation of complex life forms from bacteria to early eukaryotes. It marked the formation of continents, oxygenation by cyanobacteria and the Huronian Glaciation.
    The Mesoproterozoic (1600–1000 Ma) formed Rodinia and experienced the Grenville Orogeny.
    Sexual reproduction and multicellular life evolved, while stromatolites peaked and declined in the Neoproterozoic (1000–541 Ma).
  • 541 BCE

    Paleozoic Era

    Paleozoic Era
    This era started 541 Ma
  • 541 BCE

    Cambrian period

    Cambrian period
    This period began 541 Ma
  • Period: 541 BCE to

    Phanerozoic Eon

    The Phanerozoic Eon began 541 Ma and continues to the present, it's divided into Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.
    It's marked by diverse and complex life forms, including animals and plants. This period experienced the formation and breakup of supercontinents, significant climatic shifts, and several extinctions.
    It shows the current state of Earth's geological and biological evolution, forming the planet's modern biodiversity and landscape.
  • Period: 541 BCE to 485 BCE

    Cambrian Period

    From 541-485 Ma, the Cambrian was a key period marked by the Cambrian explosion, an event of fast biological diversification where most of the major animal groups.
    At the same time the continental seas were generally reduced and shallowed. Marine life is dominated by the appearance of several organisms with a hard exoskeleton, such as trilobites and archaea.
    This period settled the foundations for the development of future complex ecosystems.
  • Period: 541 BCE to 253 BCE

    Paleozoic Era

    The Paleozoic era (541-251.9 Ma) was a period of evolution and diversification of life, with the emergence of arthropods, chordates, trilobites, fish jaws, the first flora and vertebrates. Also was characterized by the breakup and formation of supercontinents and the change of life from ocean to land. By the end, the continent was covered by vast forests, forming today's coal deposits.
    This era was divided into periods: cambrian, ordovician, silurian, devorian, carboniferous and permian.
  • 485 BCE

    Ordovician Period

    Ordovician Period
    This period started 485 Ma
  • Period: 485 BCE to 443 BCE

    Ordovician Period

    The Ordovician (485-443 Ma) was a period of great diversification of marine life, with the emergence of many new groups of animals.
    The continents formed the supercontinent Gondwana, and towards the end of the period, a major glaciation caused a mass extinction that wiped out approximately 85% of marine species.
  • 443 BCE

    Silurian Period

    Silurian Period
    This period started 443 Ma
  • Period: 443 BCE to 419 BCE

    Silurian Period

    The Silurian, which lasted from 443-419 Ma was marked by the recovery of life after the Ordovician mass extinction.
    Marine life varies with species of fish and coral jaws. On land, vascular plants first began to colonize, marking the beginning of terrestrial vegetation.
    In geography, continents moved, and large coral reefs formed in shallow seas, forming more complex ecosystems.
  • 419 BCE

    Devonian Period

    Devonian Period
    This period began 419 Ma
  • Period: 419 BCE to 359 BCE

    Devonian Period

    The Devonian period, which spanned from 419-359 Ma.
    The so-called "Age of Fishes" observed a remarkable diversification of fishes, including the first small fishes that evolved into tetrapods.
    The plants of the land also varied and expanded, forming the first forests.
    Continents began as supercontinents, such as Euramerica and Gondwana.
    Towards the end of the period there was a series of extinction events that severely affected marine life.
  • 359 BCE

    Carboniferous Period

    Carboniferous Period
    The carboniferous period began 359 Ma
  • Period: 359 BCE to 299 BCE

    Carboniferous Period

    The Carboniferous period (359-299 Ma) saw the spread of vast swamp forests forming extensive coal deposits.
    It was a time of abundant insects, amphibians, and the first appearance of snakes. High atmospheric oxygen levels supported large arthropods. Continents continued changing, forming the supercontinent Pangaea. The Ice Age in Gondwana concluded, but an extinction event affected numerous marine and terrestrial species during this dynamic period.
  • 299 BCE

    Permian Period

    Permian Period
    This period started 299 Ma
  • Period: 299 BCE to 252 BCE

    Permian Period

    The Permian (299-252 Ma) followed by the Triassic (252-201 Ma) marked transitions in Earth's history. After the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction, life rebounded with dinosaurs, mammals, and crocodiles emerging.
    Pangea formed and later started to break apart.
    Marine reptiles appeared, corals and ammonites diversified.
    The Triassic concluded with another mass extinction, setting the stage for dinosaurs to dominate in the Jurassic.
  • 252 BCE

    Mesozoic Era

    Mesozoic Era
    This era began 252 Ma
  • 252 BCE

    Triassic Period

    Triassic Period
    This period started 252 Ma
  • Period: 252 BCE to 66 BCE

    Mesozoic Era

    The Mesozoic Era, also known as the Age of Dinosaurs (252-66 Ma), was a period of significant tectonic and climatic changes.
    It was dominated by dinosaurs and gymnosperms, and observed the appearance of birds.
    The supercontinent Pangea began to disintegrate during this era.
    This era is separated into three periods: triassic, jurassic and cretaceous.
  • Period: 252 BCE to 201 BCE

    Triassic Period

    The Triassic period (252-201 Ma) was marked by Pangea's formation, warm and dry climates, and the recovery of life post-Permian-Triassic extinction.
    It saw the emergence of dinosaurs, mammals, and flying pterosaurs.
    Marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and sauropterygians flourished in the oceans, signifying a period of significant evolutionary diversification on land and sea.
  • 201 BCE

    Jurassic Period

    Jurassic Period
    This period began 201 Ma
  • Period: 201 BCE to 145 BCE

    Jurassic Period

    The Jurassic (201-145 Ma), part of the Mesozoic era, saw early dinosaurs prosper as Pangea split into Laurasia and Gondwana, forming new oceans.
    Hot and humid conditions fostered vast coniferous and fern forests.
    Archaeopteryx represented early birds, while marine reptiles and pterosaurs developed alongside diverse ammonites and bivalves in the sea
  • 145 BCE

    Cretaceous Period

    Cretaceous Period
    This period started 145 Ma
  • Period: 145 BCE to 66 BCE

    Cretaceous Period

    The Cretaceous, which lasted from 145 to 66 Ma, was a period of continental separation and the first dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus rex emerged. Plants became flowering plants, and marine reptiles such as mosasaurs arose.
    The Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction period ended, which wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs and marked the beginning of the Cenozoic era.
  • 66 BCE

    Cenozoic Era

    Cenozoic Era
    This era began 66 Ma
  • 66 BCE

    Paleogene Period

    Paleogene Period
    This period started 66 Ma
  • Period: 66 BCE to

    Cenozoic Era

    The Cenozoic Era (66 million years to the present) is the current era, known as the "Age of Mammals" due to the emerge of mammals.
    It led to the disintegration of Pangea and major climate changes, with the climate initially being warmer rather than drier and colder at the end of the era.
  • Period: 66 BCE to 23 BCE

    Paleogene Period

    During the Paleogene (66-23 Ma), life began to recover after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
    There were many mammals, including early mammals and large mammals, while birds and sea animals began to develop.
    Geologically, the climate changes from warm to cold, with continental drift, mountain formation, and volcanoes shaping the world's landscape.
    This period lead to the foundation for modern ecosystems and climate trends that occurred in subsequent geologic periods.
  • 23 BCE

    Neogene Period

    Neogene Period
    This period started 23 Ma
  • Period: 23 BCE to 2 BCE

    Neogene period

    The Neogene (23-2.6 Ma), happened a climate change and mammals evolved.
    Modern mammals diversified and adapted to new habitats. Cetaceans and modern sharks evolved in oceans.
    Flowering plants expanded, influencing herbivore evolution.
    It ends with the beginning of the Quaternary, with climate transformations and humans emerging in Africa.
  • 2 BCE

    Quaternary Period

    Quaternary Period
    This period began 2.6 Ma
  • Period: 2 BCE to

    Quaternary Period

    The Quaternary, from 2.6 Ma to today, has been an era of the domination of mammals and the apparition of humans.
    Homo sapiens evolved and developed cultures that transformed the environment with agriculture and industrialization.
    Life adapted, although many species face extinction due to human activity and climate change.

  • Nowadays

    Until 2024, Earth will host a greater diversity of life thanks to human activities, such as: agriculture and cities.
    Tectonic activity includes earthquakes and volcanic events with gradual continental drift.
    The global movement includes geographic and environmental changes, such as climate change, driven by advances in science and technology.
    This year marks the continued interaction between human influence and natural processes that shape the present and future world.