The Precambrian covers most of Earth’s history, beginning with the planet’s formation. During this time, the first oceans, continents, and early life forms—such as bacteria and simple multicellular organisms appeared.
The Paleozoic is marked by dramatic changes in life. It includes the rise of marine animals, the first land plants, the appearance of fish, amphibians, and the earliest reptiles. It ends with the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.
Known as the “Age of Reptiles,” the Mesozoic is when dinosaurs dominated Earth. This period saw the rise of birds, flowering plants, and early mammals. It ended with a massive asteroid impact that wiped out most dinosaurs.
The Cenozoic is the “Age of Mammals.” After the dinosaurs disappeared, mammals diversified, eventually leading to modern species, including humans. This period also includes major climate shifts such as the Ice Ages.