This timeline shows the periods and eras drawn to scale with the exception of the Precambrian, which was very large, and the Quaternary Period, which was too small to fit its name. If you want to see them all scaled to proportionally, check the box below. It will give you an idea of how large the Precambrian really was in comparison to the rest.
If you prefer to see it in list form, here is an outline of the timeline:
- Precambrian 4,600 mya - 570 mya
- Earth forms 4.6 bya
- Paleozoic Era
- Cambrian Period 570 mya - 500 mya
- Ordovician Period 500 mya - 435 mya
- Silurian Period 435 mya - 410 mya
- Devonian Period 410 mya - 360 mya
- Carboniferous Period 360 mya - 290 mya
- Permian Period 290 mya - 248 mya
- Largest extinction ever 248 mya
- 70% of landanimals
- 95% of marine animals
- Mesozoic Era
- Triassic Period 248 mya - 205 mya
- Jurassic Period 205 mya - 138 mya
- Cretaceous Period 65 138 mya - 63 mya
- Dinosaurs become extinct 63 mya
- Cenozoic Era
- Paleogene Period 63 mya - 24 mya
- Neogene Period 24 mya - 2 mya
- Quaternary Period 2 mya - Present
- Homo sapiens evolve in eastern Africa 190,000 years ago
To learn more, visit the timeline on National Geographic.