Major World Eras

the long era when stone tools dominated

the era of bronze tools, early states, and expanding trade

the era when iron tools spread and larger empires emerged

the era associated with ancient Greece and Rome

the period between ancient and early modern history in Europe and the Mediterranean

the era of revived classical learning and major artistic change

the era of long-distance oceanic exploration and growing global contact

the era when modern scientific methods took shape

the era emphasizing reason, rights, and criticism of old authority

the era of mechanization, factories, and rapid urban growth

the era of expanding colonial empires and global competition

the era of global war and the collapse of old empires

the years between the world wars marked by instability and ideological conflict

the era of global war, genocide, and massive geopolitical change

the era of superpower rivalry after World War II

the era shaped by satellites and human space exploration

the era shaped by computers, digital networks, and data

the human past before written records