Table of the development of life on Earth: eras, periods, climate, living organisms

Life on Earth originated over 3.5 billion years ago, immediately after the formation of the Earth's crust. Throughout the time, the emergence and development of living organisms influenced the formation of the relief, the climate. Also, the tectonic and climatic changes that have taken place over the years have influenced the development of life on Earth.

The table for the development of life on Earth can be compiled from the chronology of events. The entire history of the Earth can be divided into certain stages. The largest of these are the era of life. They are divided into eras, eras - into periods, periods-to epochs, epochs - to centuries.

The Era of Life on Earth

The whole period of existence of life on Earth can be divided into 2 periods: Precambrian, or cryptozoic (primary period, 3.6 to 0.6 billion years), and Phanerozoic.

Cryptozoic includes the Archean (ancient life) and the Proterozoic (primary life) era.

Phanerozoic includes Paleozoic (ancient life), Mesozoic (middle life) and Cenozoic (new life) era.

These 2 periods of development of life are usually divided into smaller - the era. The boundaries between the eras are global evolutionary events, extinctions. In turn, the era is divided into periods, periods - to the era. The history of life on Earth is directly related to changes in the Earth's crust and the climate of the planet.

Era of development, countdown

The most significant events are usually allocated at special time intervals - the era. The time is counted in the reverse order, from the oldest life to the new. There are 5 eras:

1. Archean.
2. The Proterozoic.
3. The Paleozoic.
4. Mesozoic.
5. The Cenozoic.

Periods of life on Earth

The Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras include periods of development. These are smaller periods of time, compared with the eras.

Palaeozoic:

• Cambrian (Cambrian).
• Ordovician.
• Silurian (Silurian).
• Devonian (Devonian).
• Carboniferous (carbon).
• Perm (Perm).

Mesozoic Era:

• Triassic (Triassic).
• Jurassic (Jurassic).
• Cretaceous (chalk).

The Cenozoic Era:

• Lower Tertiary (Paleogene).
• The Upper Tertiary (Neogene).
• Quaternary, or anthropogen (human development).

The first 2 periods are in the tertiary period of 59 million years.

Development of living organisms

The table for the development of life on Earth assumes a separation not only into time intervals, but also to certain stages in the formation of living organisms, possible climatic changes (glacial period, global warming).

• The Archean era. The most significant changes in the evolution of living organisms are the appearance of blue-green algae - prokaryotes, capable of reproduction and photosynthesis, the emergence of multicellular organisms. The appearance of living protein substances (heterotrophs), capable of absorbing organic substances dissolved in water. In the future, the emergence of these living organisms made it possible to divide the world into a vegetable and an animal.

• The Proterozoic era. The appearance of unicellular algae, annelid worms, mollusks, marine coelenterates. The appearance of the first chordates (lancelet). There is soil formation around water bodies.
• Palaeozoic.
• Cambrian period. Development of algae, marine invertebrates, mollusks.
• Ordovician period. Trilobites changed the shell to limestone. Cephalopods are distributed with a straight or slightly curved shell. The first vertebrates are fish-like carnivorous animals. Living organisms are concentrated in water.
• Silurian. Development of corals, trilobites. The first vertebrates appear. The output of plants on land (psilophytes).
• Devonian. The appearance of the first fish, stegocephalus. The appearance of mushrooms. Development and extinction of psilophytes. Development on land of higher disputes.
• Carboniferous and Permian periods. The ancient land is full of reptiles, there are animal-like reptiles. Trilobites are dying out. Extinction of the Carboniferous forests. Development of gymnosperms, ferns.

• Mesozoic era.

• Triassic. Distribution of plants (gymnosperms). Increase in the number of reptiles. The first mammals, bony fish.
• Jurassic period. The predominance of gymnosperms, the emergence of angiosperms. The appearance of a pioneer, the flowering of cephalopods.
• Cretaceous period. Distribution of angiosperms, reduction of other plant species. Development of bone fishes, mammals and birds.

• The Cenozoic era.
  • Lower Tertiary period (Paleogene). Flowering angiosperms. The development of insects and mammals, the emergence of lemurs, later primates.
  • The Upper Tertiary period (Neogene). The formation of modern plants. The emergence of ancestors of people.
  • Quaternary period (anthropogen). Formation of modern plants, animals. Appearance of a person.

Development of conditions of inanimate nature, climate change

The table of the development of life on Earth can not be presented without data on changes in inanimate nature. The emergence and development of life on Earth, new species of plants and animals, all this is accompanied by changes in inanimate nature, climate.

Climate change: the Archaean era

The history of the development of life on Earth began through the stage of the predominance of land over water resources. The relief was poorly delineated. The atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide, the amount of oxygen is minimal. In shallow water, low salinity.

For the Archean era are characterized by volcanic eruptions, lightning, black clouds. The rocks are rich in graphite.

Climate Changes in the Proterozoic Era

The land is a stone desert, all living organisms live in water. Oxygen is accumulated in the atmosphere.

Climate change: the Paleozoic era

In different periods of the Paleozoic era, the following climate changes occurred:

• Cambrian period. The land is still deserted. The climate is hot.
• Ordovician period. The most significant changes are the flooding of almost all northern platforms.
• Silurian. Tectonic changes, conditions of inanimate nature are diverse. There is a mountain formation, the seas prevail over the land. Areas of different climates are determined, including cooling regions.
• Devonian. Dry climate prevails, continental. Formation of intermontane depressions.
• Carboniferous period. Lowering of continents, wetlands. Warm and humid climate, the atmosphere has a lot of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• The Perm period. Hot climate, volcanic activity, mountain building, drying up of bogs.

In the era of the Paleozoic, the mountains of Caledonian folding were formed. Such changes in the relief affected the world's oceans - sea basins were reduced, a significant area of land was formed.

The Paleozoic era marked the beginning of almost all major oil and coal deposits.

Climate changes in the Mesozoic

For the climate of different periods of the Mesozoic, the following features are characteristic:

• Triassic. Volcanic activity, the climate is sharply continental, warm.
• Jurassic period. Mild and warm climate. The seas prevail over the land.
• Cretaceous period. Retreat of the seas from land. The climate is warm, but at the end of the period global warming is replaced by cooling.

In the Mesozoic era, previously formed mountain systems are destroyed, plains go under the water (Western Siberia). In the second half of the era the Cordilleras, the mountains of Eastern Siberia, Indochina, and part of Tibet were formed, the mountains of Mesozoic folding were formed. The prevailing hot and humid climate, conducive to the formation of marshes and peat bogs.

Climate change - the Cenozoic era

In the Cenozoic era there was a general uplift of the Earth's surface. The climate has changed. Numerous glaciations of terrestrial coverings from the north have changed the face of the continents of the Northern Hemisphere. Thanks to such changes, hilly plains were formed.

• Nizhnetretichny period. Mild climate. Division into 3 climatic zones. Formation of continents.
• The Upper Tertiary period. Dry climate. The emergence of the steppes, savannah.
• Quaternary period. Multiple glaciation of the northern hemisphere. Cooling of the climate.

All the changes during the development of life on Earth can be written down in the form of a table that will reflect the most significant stages in the formation and development of the modern world. Despite the already known methods of research, and now scientists continue to study history, make new discoveries that allow modern society to learn how life developed on Earth before the appearance of man.