The
Beginning
Eons and Eras:
Major Time Divisions

Periods, Epochs, and Ages:
Detailed Time Frames

Key Geological and Biological Events

Understanding Time and Earth's History

100

It is the largest phase or section in geologic time

Eons

100

The formation of Earth and early differentiation of its layers.

Hadean

100

Each era is further divided into ____, which represent significant geological or biological events.

Period

100

this is The largest extinction event, wiping out nearly 95% of marine species.

End-Permian Extinction

100

this measures the decay of radioactive isotopes.

 radiometric dating

200

What are the four types of Eons called?

Hadean , Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic

200

The development of Earth's crust and the emergence of early life.

Archean

200

Within the Mesozoic era. this is known for the dominance of dinosaurs.

Jurassic Period

200

this is The event that led to the demise of the dinosaurs, likely caused by an asteroid impact.

Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) Extinction

200

this is known for the study of rocks layers and their relative ages.

stratigraphy

300

Is the record of the life forms and geological events in Earth’s history

Geological time scale

300

The rise of oxygen in the atmosphere and the evolution of complex life forms.

Proterozoic

300

this is The smallest units of time, representing specific intervals within epochs?

Ages

300

These are significant biological events that help define the time scale.

Evolutionary Milestones

300

this serves as critical markers in understanding evolutionary history, helping to define the boundaries between different time divisions in the scale.

Fossil Record

400

helped determine the absolute divisions in the time scale

 Radioactive dating

400

The era of visible life, marked by the proliferation of plants, animals, and fungi.

Phanerozoic

400

Following the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, mammals began to diversify and occupy new ecological niches.

Paleocene Epoch

400

Events where a significant number of species go extinct across the globe.

Mass Extinctions

400

this is used to determine a fossils approximate age by comparing it to similar rocks and fossils of known ages?

Relative Dating

1000

How is Time Divided?

Bonus!

1000

Each eon is divided into_____ which are distinguished by major events in Earth’s history.

Eras

1000

What is the current epoch, marking the rise of human civilization and the development of agriculture, urbanization, and significant environmental changes.

 Holocene Epoch

1000

What are the key factors that drive glaciations, and how did they shape Earth's surface?

Ice Ages and Glaciations

1000

Scientists use various methods to determine the age of rocks and fossils.

Dating Techniques