| 13,600 mya: Big Bang event |
| 4600 mya: Accretion of the Solar System |
Precambrian Superion (4600-541 mya)
Hadean Eon (4600-4000 mya) – Earth molten
| 4450 Earth cools and its surface solidifies. Atmosphere and oceans form |
Archaean Eon (4000-2500 mya) – Stromatolites
| 3600-3000 Vaalbara supercontinent (1) |
| 3550 Cyanobacteria, stromatolites |
| 3000-2800 Ur supercontinent (2) |
| 2800-2100 Kenorland supercontinent (3) |
Proterozoic Eon (2500-541 mya) – Eukaryotes
| 2400-2100 Huronian glaciation (1)* |
| 2200 Red beds |
| 2100 Eukaryotes (basic organism) |
| 1800 Banded iron formations |
| 1800 Earth’s atmosphere starts to become oxygenic |
| 1800-1500 Columbia supercontinent (4) |
| 1600 Acritarchs (organic fossil) |
| 1100-750 Rodinia supercontinent (5) |
| 720-635 Cryogenian* glaciation (2) |
| 600-540 Pannotia supercontinent (6) |
| 590-542 Ediacara biota |
| 550 Sponges, corals, anemones |
| 544 Small shelly fauna (SSF) |
Phanerozoic Eon (541-Present)
Palaeozoic Era (541-252 mya)
CAMBRIAN PERIOD (541-485 mya) – Invertebrates
| 540 Arthropods (animals with exoskeleton) |
| 540 Brachiopods (marine animal) |
| 540 Chordates (fish, birds, mammals) |
| 540 Echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins) |
| 540 Molluscs (e.g. snails, slugs, clams) |
| 530 Agnathans(jawless fish) |
| 521 Trilobites (arthropods) |
| 510 Graptolites (aquatic colonial animal) |
| 505 Burgess Shale |
| 495 Nautiloid cephalopods (mollusc) |
ORDOVICIAN PERIOD (485-443 mya) – Land Plants
| 485 Ostracoderms (armoured agnathans) |
| 465 Eurypterids (scorpion-like arthropods) |
| 460-430 Andean-Saharan glaciation (3)* |
| 450 Land plants, fungi |
| 443 Extinction event (1) |
SILURIAN PERIOD (443-419 mya) – Jawed Fish
| 440 Pterygotus (sea scorpion) |
| 435 Acanthodians (spiny sharks) |
| 430 Placoderms (armour-plated fishes) |
| 430 Arthrodires (armoured jawed fishes) |
| 430 Cooksonia (plant) |
| 426 Lycopods (vascular plants) |
| 420 Actinopterygians (ray-finned fishes) |
| 420 Osteichthyes (bony fishes) |
DEVONIAN PERIOD (419-359 mya) – Amphibians
| 418 Sarcopterygians (lobe-finned fishes) |
| 415 Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) |
| 410 Aglaophyton (pre-vascular plant) |
| 400 Coelacanths (Sarcopterygian) |
| 400 Psilophytons (vascular plant) |
| 400 Rhynia (vascularplant) |
| 400 Steganotheca (bushy plant) |
| 400 Trimerophytes (vascular plants) |
| 400 Rhipidistians (lobe-finned fishes) |
| 396 Insects |
| 395 Tetrapods(four-limbed vertebrate) |
| 390 Dipnoans (lungfish) |
| 380 Dunkleosteus (arthrodire) |
| 380 Progymnosperms (spore-bearing plants) |
| 370 Extinction event (2) |
| 370 Gymnosperms (seed-producing plants) |
| 365 Ichthyostega (amphibian) |
| 360 Anthracosaurs (reptile-like amphibians) |
| 360-260 Karoo glaciation (4)* |
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD (359-299 mya) – Reptiles
| 350 Calamites (tree-like horsetails) |
| 350 Lepidodendron (tree-like plant) |
| 350 Sigillaria (spore-bearing tree-like plant) |
| 340 Lepospondyls (newt-, lizard-like animals) |
| 335 Westlothiana (reptile-like amphibian) |
| 330 Pteridosperms (seed ferns) |
| 330 Temnospondyli(primitive amphibians) |
| 320 Synapsids (mammals) |
| 318 Microsaurs (amphibians) |
| 318 Ophiacodon (synapsid) |
| 315 Hylonomus (first known reptile) |
| 307 Protorothyrids (lizard-like reptiles) |
| 305 Pelycosaurs (mammal-like reptiles) |
| 305 Meganeura* (giant dragonflies) |
| 302 Diapsids (lizards, snakes, birds) |
| 302 Petrolacosaurus (reptile) |
| 300 Winged insects |
| 300-180 Pangaea supercontinent (7) |
PERMIAN PERIOD (299-252 mya) – Seed Plants
| 299 Dimetrodon (mammal-like reptile) |
| 290 Glossopteridales (seed ferns) |
| 284 Araeoscelis (reptile) |
| 275 Therapsids (synapsids) |
| 270 Olson’s* extinction event (1) |
| 270 Tapinocephalians (therapsid) |
| 269 Dinocephalians (therapsids) |
| 268 Dicynodonts (therapsids) |
| 267 Estemmenosuchids (therapsid) |
| 265 Gorgonopsians (therapsids) |
| 260 Therocephalians (therapsids) |
| 260 Cynodonts (therapsids) |
| 260 Coelurosauravus (gliding reptile) |
| 252 Extinction event (3) |
Mesozoic Era (252-66 mya)
TRIASSIC PERIOD (252-201 mya) – Lizards
| 250Teleosts (ray-finned fish) |
| 245 Archosaurs(dinosaurs, pterosaurs) |
| 245 Erythrosuchus (archosaur) |
| 245 Proterosuchus (archosaur) |
| 245 Sauropterygians (aquatic reptiles) |
| 245 Ichthyosaurs (marine reptiles) |
| 240 Nothosaurs (sauropterygian reptiles) |
| 236 Placodonts (sauropterygian reptiles) |
| 231 Eoraptor (theropod) |
| 231 Herrerasaurus (saurischian) |
| 231 Saurischians (lizard-hipped dinosaurs) |
| 231 Sauropodomorphs (lizard-footed saurischians) |
| 231 Theropods (beast-footed saurischians) |
| 230 Lagosuchus (archosaur) |
| 230 Saurosuchus (archosaur) |
| 229 Termites |
| 228 Ornithosuchus (archosaurian reptile) |
| 228 Ornithischians (beast-hipped dinosaurs) |
| 228 Pisanosaurus (ornithischian) |
| 225 Megazostrodon (first mammal) |
| 225 Pachypleurosaurs (aquatic reptiles) |
| 225 Sharovipteryx (gliding reptile) |
| 221 Rhamphorhynchoids (pterosaurs) |
| 220 Rutiodon (archosaur) |
| 217 Coelophysis (saurischian) |
| 215 Turtles |
| 210 Pterosaurs (flying reptiles) |
| 210 Terrestrisuchus (lizard-like animal) |
| 210 Extinction event (4) |
JURASSIC PERIOD (201-145 mya) – Dinosaurs
| 200 Holosteans (ray-finned fish) |
| 200 Inoceramus (mollusc) |
| 200 Massospondylus (sauropodomorph) |
| 200 Scleromochlus (pterosaur) |
| 199 Lesothosaurus (ornithischian) |
| 199 Thyreophorans (ornithischian) |
| 196 Scutellosaurus (ornithischian) |
| 193 Dilophosaurus (saurischian) |
| 191 Scelidosaurus (ornithischian) |
| 190 Notochampsa (archosaur) |
| 190 Plesiosaurs, pliosaurs (marine reptiles) |
| 195 Protosuchus (crocodile-like) |
| 169 Ornithopods(ornithischian) |
| 167 Ankylosaurus (ornithischian) |
| 165 Therians (mammals) |
| 164 Dromaeosaurs (saurischians) |
| 160 Birds |
| 160 Eutherians (therians) |
| 160 Mamenchisaurus (ornithischian) |
| 158 Ceratopsians (ornithischians) |
| 155 Allosaurus (saurischian) |
| 155 Stegosaurus (ornithischian) |
| 154 Apatosaurus (saurischian) |
| 154 Brachiosaurus (sauropodomorph) |
| 154 Diplodocus (sauropodomorph) |
| 153 Multituberculates (rodent-like mammals) |
| 151 Pterodactylus (pterosaur) |
| 150 Archaeopteryx (bird) |
| 150 Euskelosaurus (sauropodomorph) |
CRETACEOUS PERIOD (145-66.0 mya) – Birds
| 130 Angiosperms (flowering plants) |
| 130 Clavatipollenites (pollen grain) |
| 130 Hypsilophodon (ornithischian) |
| 130 Neogastropods(sea snails) |
| 126 Iguanodon (ornithischian) |
| 125 Kronosaurus (pliosaur) |
| 125 Metatherians (therian) |
| 125 Oviraptorosaurs (saurischian) |
| 124 Caudipteryx (saurischian) |
| 120 Sinornis (bird) |
| 115 Deinonychus (saurischian) |
| 100 Ants, bees |
| 100 Hadrosaurs (ornithischians) |
| 100 Pines |
| 095 Ichthyornis (toothed seabird) |
| 095 Oaks |
| 086 Pteranodon (pterosaur) |
| 084 Archelon (sea turtle) |
| 084 Hesperornis (flightless aquatic bird) |
| 081 Elasmosaurus (plesiosaur) |
| 080 Mosasaurs (marine reptiles) |
| 078 Stegoceras (ornithischian) |
| 077 Parasaurolophus (ornithischian) |
| 076 Euoplocephalus (ornithischian) |
| 070 Betulaceae (alder, beech, birch, hazel) |
| 070 Opossums (marsupials) |
| 070 Pachycephalosaurus(ornithischian) |
| 070 Saurolophus (ornithischian) |
| 068 Quetzalcoatlus (pterosaur) |
| 068 Triceratops (ornithischian) |
| 067 Tyrannosaurus rex (saurischian) |
Cenozoic Era (66 mya-Present)
NEOGENE PERIOD (66-2.59 mya)
Palaeocene Epoch (66.0-56.0 mya) – Mammals
| 66 Condylarths (placental mammals) |
| 65 Extinction event (5) |
| 65 Limes |
| 65 Marsupials (therians) |
| 65 Primates (probably) |
| 65 Ungulates (hoofed animals) |
| 63 Creodonts (eutherians) |
| 63 Haplorrhines (dry-nosed primates) |
| 63 Lemurs (prosimian primates) |
| 63 Strepsirrhines (wet-nosed primate) |
| 62 Rodents |
| 60 Hyaenodontids (creodonts) |
| 60 Mesonychids (eutherians) |
| 60 Pantodonts (Eutheria) |
| 60 Proboscidea (trunk feeders) |
| 60 Uintatheres (mammals) |
| 59 Armadillos (mammals) |
| 59 Coryphodon (mammal) |
| 58 Primates (earliest known) |
| 58 Plesiadapids (primate-like mammals) |
| 56 Diatrymas (large flightless bird) |
| 56 Perissodactyls (odd-toed ungulates) |
Eocene Epoch (56.0-33.9 mya) – Modern Mammals
| 56 Hyraxes (‘shrewmice’) |
| 56 Sirenia (sea cows) |
| 56 Titanotheres (rhino-like perissodactyl) |
| 56 Anteaters, sloths |
| 55 Cetaceans (marine mammals) |
| 55 Hyracotherium (dog-sized herbivore) |
| 55 Miacoids (primitive carnivores) |
| 55 Odontocetes (toothed whales) |
| 55 Omomyids (early primates) |
| 54 Artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates) |
| 54 Equidae (horses) |
| 52 Bats |
| 52 Eohippus (‘dawn horse’) |
| 52 Pakicetus (amphibious whale) |
| 50 Moths |
| 47 Adapids (lower primates) |
| 45 Andrewsarchus (mammal) |
| 45 Butterflies |
| 45 Camelid (Dromedary, Bactrian camel) |
| 45 Camels, rhinoceroses, tapirs |
| 45 Simiiformes (primate infraorders) |
| 45 Tarsiiformes (primate infraorders) |
| 42 Hyaenodon gigas (creodont) |
| 42 Sabre-toothed cats (related to modern cats) |
| 40 Anthracotheres (hippo-like ungulates) |
| 40 Canidae (dogs, wolves, foxes) |
| 40 Catarrhines (Old World monkeys) |
| 40 Hesperocyon (canid) |
| 40 Hyrachyus (ancestor of rhinoceros) |
| 40 Mesohippus (early horse) |
| 40 Platyrrhines (New World monkeys) |
| 39 Mysticetes (baleen whales) |
| 38 Bears |
| 38 Brontotherium (rhino-like browser) |
| 38 Hoplophoneus (false sabre-toothed cat) |
| 37 Entelodonts (pig-like omnivores) |
| 37 Moeritherium (pig-like animal) |
| 36 Arsinoitherium (rhinoceros-like herbivore) |
| 36 Phiomia (resembled an elephant) |
| 35 Eagles |
| 35 Oreodonts (sheep-sized cud-chewers) |
| 34 Indricotherium (rhino-like mammal) |
| 35 Aegyptopithecus (early catarrhine fossil) |
Oligocene Epoch (33.9-23.0 mya) – Ruminants
| 30 Ground sloths (mammals) |
| 30 Indricotheres (hornless rhinoceroses) |
| 30 Stenomylus (camelid) |
| 25 Deer |
| 25 Grasslands formed |
| 25 Hominoidea (apes) |
| 25 Proailurus (‘first cat’) |
| 25 Proconsul (hominoid) |
Miocene Epoch (23.0-5.33 mya) – Elephants
| 22 Mastodon (related to the elephant |
| 20 Anchitherium (browsing horse) |
| 20 Daeodon (large entelodont) |
| 20 Deinotherium (related to the elephant) |
| 20 Elms |
| 20 Eotragus (bovid) |
| 20 Giraffes |
| 20 Gomphotherium (resembled the elephant) |
| 18 Afropithecus hominoid) |
| 18 Hominidae (great apes) |
| 18 Hylobatidae (gibbons) |
| 17 Merychippus (grazing horse) |
| 16 Hippopotamuses, Porpoises |
| 14 Homininae (African apes) |
| 14 Kenyapithecus (hominoid) |
| 14 Ponginae (orangutans) |
| 13 Ramapithecus (pongine) |
| 12.5 Sivapithecus (pongine) |
| 12 Dryopithecus (hominoid) |
| 12 Pliohippus (equid) |
| 10 Dolphins |
| 09 Gigantopithecus (pongine) |
| 09 Platypus (semi-aquatic mammal) |
| 07 Gorillinae (gorillas) |
| 07 Sahelanthropus tchadensis (hominin) |
| 6.1 Orrorin tugenensis (hominine) |
| 06 Panini (chimpanzees) |
Pliocene Epoch (5.33-2.59 mya) – Australopithecines
| 4.8 Mammuthus (related to the elephant) |
| 4.4 Ardipithecus ramidus (hominine) |
| 4.2 Australopithecus anamensis (hominin) |
| 3.9 Australopithecus afarensis (hominin) |
| 3.5 Equus (modern horse) |
| 3.0 Australopithecus africanus (hominin) |
| 2.7 Paranthropus aethiopicus (hominin) |
QUATERNARY PERIOD (2590-Present)
Pleistocene Epoch (2590-11.7 kya) – Ice Age
PALEOLITHIC PERIOD
| 2500 Smilodon (sabre-toothed cat) |
| 2600-1400 Oldowan culture |
| 2590-10 Quaternary glaciation (5) |
| 2300 Hominina (humans) |
| 2300 Homo habilis (hominan) |
| 2300 Paranthropus boisei (hominin) |
| 2000 Paranthropus robustus (hominin) |
| 1900 Homo rudolfensis (hominan) |
| 1900 Homo erectus (hominan) |
| 1600-100 Acheulian culture |
| 600 Homo heidelbergensis (hominan) |
| 600 Homo neanderthalensis (hominan) |
| 350 Woolly rhinoceros (perissodactyl) |
| 300-200 Hoxnian interglacial |
| 300-200 Clactonian culture |
| 200 Homo sapiens (hominan) |
| 160-40 Mousterian culture |
| 41-39 Chatelperronian culture |
| 40 Cro-Magnon colonization of Europe |
| 40-30 Aurignacian culture |
| 33-17 Gravettian culture |
| 22-17 Solutrean culture |
| 17-12 Magdalenian culture |
| 15.55 Altamira cave paintings |
| 15-10 Extinction event (6) |
Holocene Epoch 9700 BC – Present) – Current Interglacial
MESOLITHIC PERIOD
| 9000 Emergence of Jericho in Palestine* |
| 7500 Catal Hoyuk founded in Anatolia* |
| 7000 Pottery in Middle East |
NEOLITHIC PERIOD
| 6500 Britain cut off from the continent* |
| 5500 Cemeteries at Oleneostrovski Mogilnik |
COPPER AGE
| 5500 Copper smelting in evidence |
| 5000 Spread of proto-writing* |
| 4000 Civilisations evolve in Fertile Crescent* |
| 3750 Uruk Period in Sumer* |
| 3650 Minoan culture began on Crete* |
| 3400 Writing invented in Sumer* |
BRONZE AGE
| 3200 Elamite Period in Iran* |
| 3050 First dynasty of Egypt* |
| 3000 Cycladic civilisation in Greece* |
| 2600 Emergence of Maya culture in Yucatan |
| 1800 Alphabetic writing emerges* |
| 1600 Mycenaean Greece* |
| 1300 Urnfield culture |
IRON AGE
| 1200 Sea Peoples* |
| 0800 Hallstatt culture |
| 0450 La Tene culture |
*not mentioned in main text
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