EarthHistory

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

4.8 billion years ago
The solar system, including the planet Earth, was born.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

3.8 billion years ago
The oldest rocks date from this time.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

3.5 billion years ago
The first life appeared. Colonies of photosynthetic bacteria formed hard calcium carbonate mounds called stromatolites.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

3.5 M

2.2 billion years ago
Oxygen levels in the atmosphere increased dramatically.

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

3.5 M

1.8 billion years ago
The first eukaryotic cells (cells with nuclei) appeared.

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

560 million years ago

The first animals evolved. These animals had soft bodies and lived in the oceans.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

520 million years ago
A huge number of new animals evolved, including the first animals with hard skeletons. Trilobites were abundant.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

440 million years ago
Fish and coral reefs spread through the oceans. Plants and animals, including relatives of spiders and centipedes, colonized the land.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

300 million years ago
Lush swamps known as “coal swamps” covered the land. The Appalachian Mountains formed when the continents Godwanaland and Laurasia collided.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

245 million years ago
The largest mass extinction ever claimed most of the marine organisms. Most of the land on Earth is contained in the single supercontinent, Pangea.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

200 million years ago
Dinosaurs, including the giant long-necked sauropods, ruled the earth. Sharks, ichthyosaurs, and giant marine scorpions ruled the seas.

3.5 M

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65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

160 million years ago
The first mammals evolved. This is the oldest age of the Pacific crust.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

100 million years ago

Flowering plants appeared. Tyrannosaurus rex roamed the earth.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

65 million years ago

Dinosaurs go extinct. Pangea has broken up into present day continents. The Rocky mountains form.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

20 million years ago
Large mammals increase in importance. Grasslands and deserts form in the middle of continents.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

3.5 million years ago
Evidence of the oldest human ancestors date from this time.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M

History of the Earth

Click on the dates to learn about some of the major events in Earth's history—from present to 4.8 billion years ago.

230

230 thousand years ago

The first Homo sapiens (upright humans) evolved.

3.5 M

20 M

65 M

100 M

160 M

4.8B

200 M

245 M

3.8 B

2.2 B

300 M

440 M

3.5 B

520 M

1.8 B

560 M