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Geological Time Periods

Cenozoic Era

Quaternary(0 - 2.6 Ma)
The current geological period, characterized by ice ages and human evolution
Neogene(2.6 - 23 Ma)
Period of grassland expansion and mammalian diversification
Paleogene(23 - 66 Ma)
Recovery period after the mass extinction, rise of mammals and birds

Mesozoic Era

Cretaceous(66 - 145 Ma)
Last period of the Mesozoic, ended with the extinction of dinosaurs
Jurassic(145 - 201 Ma)
Golden age of dinosaurs, first birds, and marine reptiles
Triassic(201 - 252 Ma)
First dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and early mammals

Paleozoic Era

Permian(252 - 299 Ma)
Ended with the largest mass extinction in Earth's history
Carboniferous(299 - 359 Ma)
Coal forests, first reptiles, and large insects
Devonian(359 - 419 Ma)
Age of fishes, first forests, and early amphibians
Silurian(419 - 444 Ma)
First jawed fish and early land plants
Ordovician(444 - 485 Ma)
Marine invertebrates diversification, ended with mass extinction
Cambrian(485 - 541 Ma)
Cambrian explosion of life, first complex organisms