What are historical eras and examples of historical eras? Learn about different eras in history and different time periods during historical timelines.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Historical Eras | Definition & Examples
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Activities—Historical Eras: Definition & Examples:
Matrix Activity:
On a blank sheet of paper create a 10 by 3 chart. In the top left corner box, write Era. In the boxes beneath that, list the various bullet-pointed eras in this lesson (the Industrial Revolution to the Cold War). In the two boxes next to the Era box, write Time Frame and Commonalities. Fill in the rest of the boxes with information you have learned in this lesson. You may also want to think about connections between eras. For example, the Industrial Revolution overlaps with what other historical eras? If you'd like to include an era, such as the Roaring Twenties, which is not bullet-pointed but discussed in the lesson, feel free to adjust your matrix accordingly. This activity will help you develop a timeline of prominent historical eras and will serve as a handy study guide in the future!
Matrix Example:
| Era | Time Frame | Commonalities |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Revolution | ||
| Civil War Era | ||
| Victorian Era | ||
| Progressive Era | ||
| World War I | ||
| Inter-war Period | ||
| World War II | ||
| Cold War Era | ||
| Civil Rights Era |
Writing Activity:
After reading this lesson, think about our own time and write a 2-3 paragraph essay positing a name for the past five years. Although historical eras are generally named well after the time period, think about the prominent characteristics of our society (e.g. political, economic, cultural, technological), and argue for a label for our contemporary period. Remember that naming a historical era is often contested, so you will need to back up your argument with evidence.
Additional Questions to Consider:
- True or False: The people living through a historical era determine the name of that period. (Hint: Did people know they were living through the ''Age of Discovery?'')
What era do we live in?
The current era is called both the Contemporary Era and the Information Age. It is characterized by developments in technology that have changed the way that humans work. Humanity has become more connected through the invention of computers and other smart devices and are able to obtain more information through them.
What are the different eras?
There are many different eras throughout history. Simply, there are three common eras that historians and scientists agree upon:
- The Ancient Era
- The Post-Classical Era
- The Modern Era
What are the names of eras?
Within the three common historical eras, other time periods exist. The Ancient Era (600 B.C.E to 476 C.E.) is comprised of the Prehistoric Era and the Classical Era. It was a time of major human development in terms of knowledge and civilization. The Post-Classical Era (476 C.E. to 1500 C.E.) is also called the Middle Ages, a dark time when conflict was present around much of Europe and a lot of knowledge was lost. The Modern Era (1500 B.C to present) contains the Early Modern Era and Current Modern Era.
What are the major time periods in history?
There are many time periods in history. Human time periods define ranges where humans have shown significant growth as a whole. Astrological time periods are based on human development, too, and are named after the constellations. Mythological time periods refer to the creation and destruction of Earth by the gods of specific cultures. Geological time periods refer to the physical creation of the Earth. Finally, cosmological time periods describe the creation of the Earth in relation to the Big Bang Theory.
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ShowA historical era also known as a historical period is a period of time that has been classified specifically because of commonalities within that time frame. Eras can range from tens to hundreds to thousands of years, so long as that the events taking place within the timeframe have some similarity linking the period together. Some examples of eras include the Cold War era, the Classical Era, or the Triassic period.
Common historical eras are those which are the most studied and well known. They are large and span from hundreds to thousands of years, and they are usually determined by historians after the era passes. Historians do not always agree on the beginning and ending points of time periods, though. There are three common historical eras that most historians recognize:
- Ancient Era
- Post-Classical (Middle) Era
- Modern Era
Often, there are many smaller eras within these large, overarching time periods. While common historical eras are typically divided by a major global event or advancement, smaller ages may be broken down by a range of specific years, smaller events within the time period that are similar, or the time which a certain empire thrived and was most powerful.
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What are the different eras? Simply put, there are different time periods in history that exist based on different timelines. What may be important scientifically could have a completely different historical era timeline in terms of cultural development. Therefore, the world is divided into the three common historical eras, which are agreed upon by most branches of study. They are a basic breakdown of major events happening within the world.
| Era Name | Sub-Era Name/Dates | Important Events |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Era | Prehistoric Era (pre-600 B.C.E.) | The Prehistoric era is divided from later time periods because it was a time when little history of human development was recorded. Within this foundational era are the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, where early human development towards civilization began to take place. Highlights include the migration of humans from Africa, the implementation of stone tools in society, the settling of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, invention of the wheel, and the first planned cities. |
| Classical Era (600 B.C.E.to 476 C.E.) | The Classical Era is also part of the Ancient Era. The first recorded sources of human history were written during this timeframe. This era is largely a culmination of regional eras, such as those of the ancient Greek, Roman, Persian, and Byzantine empires. These civilizations were most powerful during the Classical Era. During this time period, education, democracy, irrigation, religion, and culture were expanded and human knowledge flourished. | |
| Post-Classical Era | Middle Ages (476 C.E. to 1500 C.E.) | During the fall of Rome in 476 C.E., human knowledge and recorded history were lost when the civilization was burned. The slow regaining of this knowledge up until the time of the Renaissance Period in the early 1500s marks the commonalities of the era. The Early Middle Ages lasted from 476 C.E. to around 1000 C.E., when many civilizations were being rebuilt in the wake of the collapse of Rome. The High Middle Ages lasted until 1250 C.E. and were characterized by the power of the Catholic Church. Finally, the Late Middle Ages boasted the invention of the printing press, exploration, and the Black Plague/ |
| Modern Era | Early Modern Era (1500 C.E. to 1750 C.E.) | The Early Modern Era was a resurgence of the Classical Era. Human knowledge once again began to grow during the Renaissance and Reformation periods when culture was expanded upon and the reorganization of religion were major milestones of humanity. The age of discovery happened between the 15th and 17th centuries. The Enlightenment Period was the re-evaluation of politics and economics in society during the 18th century. |
| Current Modern Era (1750 C.E. to Present) | The Current Modern Era is the most recent era in history. It is made up of many other time periods, including the Industrial Era, the Revolutionary Era, the Age of Imperialism, the Victorian Era, World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, and the current Contemporary Period, also called the Information Age. Some periods such as the Industrial era are characterized by economic booms and the expansion of trade, while other eras like the Victorian Era mark the reign of an individual (Queen Victoria of England). Other eras are defined by major global events such as the World War Eras, or events within a country that caused major change such as the Revolutionary Era or Great Depression. When the stock market crashed in 1929, an era of prosperity and economic boom (the 1920s) in America led into the Great Depression period. |
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Human time periods can be divided into prehistorical and historical eras. Thus far, the eras that have been described are human time periods. They are characterized by human advancements in religion, culture, education, exploration, and politics. The Current Modern Era has been one of the most progressive in history, with advancements in industry and civilization. Most recently, the invention of the computer and other technologies have brought humanity into a new age of knowledge and information.
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Human eras also can be defined by events that did not have favorable results for humanity. During the High Middle Ages, the Black Plague was an event that lasted many years and killed thousands of people across Europe and Asia. Therefore, it may be possible that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity is entering into a new era characterized by health and safety as an integral part of the culture.
It is important to recognize, however, that the milestone events for humanity are not the only types of eras that exist. In fact, the development of Earth as a whole is broken down into eras from the first seconds after the universe was created to the present. Specific cultures in the world may have their own time periods that are used. The following sections will briefly explore some other kinds of historical eras.
Mythological and Astrological Time Periods
The Mythological Ages are cultural ages that are referenced often in both Greek and Aztecan history and are based on the rule of their gods. Within each culture, there are historical events that define smaller ages within this branch of eras. Greek scholars study historical events by distinguishing the following ages (called Hesiod's five ages), though no exact date ranges are given:
* Golden Age: A time when the civilization was flourishing and self-sufficient. It was characterized by peace and prosperity. The god Cronus ruled.
* Silver Age: During this time, men turned away from religion and refused to worship gods. Greek religion was now ruled by Zeus, son of Cronus, who destroyed non-worshippers.
* Bronze Age: Following the wrath of Zeus in the Silver Age, men turned to war. They used weapons and armor made of bronze to fight. This was an age characterized by violence.
* Heroic Age: Characterized by those who fought for the gods at Thebes and Troy. Humans attempted to return to peaceful times with the gods whom they had angered.
* Iron Age: War and misery define men. They do not care about doing the right thing, and the gods have abandoned them.
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In Aztecan culture, mythological time periods are used to describe the cultural and religious beliefs of the creation and end of the world. They are represented through the five suns, each of whom had a part in the creation of the world. However, each sun is believed to have destroyed the world in a different way.
* Nahui-Ocelotl: People were eaten by jaguars and the world was destroyed.
* Nahui-Ehecatl: People were transformed into monkeys and the world was destroyed by a hurricane for unsetting Ehecatl, the god of wind.
* Nahuiquiahuitl: Only birds survived when the world was destroyed from rains of fire by Quiahuitl, the rain god.
* Nahui-Atl: The world was destroyed by Atl, god of water, when a flood was sent.
* Nahui-Ollin: The world will be destroyed by earthquakes if the gods are angered. Ollin, the god of earthquakes, will lead the destruction.
Astrological Ages are described by astrologers as times when there are major changes in human development. Each astrological age lasts approximately 2000 years because during that time period, at least one major human milestone has historically occurred. Astrologers do not specify an exact date. Astrological ages are named using the twelve zodiacal symbols. There have been five astrological ages that are now finished, and the sixth astrological age is the current era.
| Name of Age | Date Range | Important Events |
|---|---|---|
| Leonian | 10,500 B.C. to 8000 B.C. | Rise in sea level that made modern life on Earth possible, watched over by the sun. |
| Cancerian | 8000 B.C. to 6000 B.C. | Beginning of civilization and settlement, guided by the moon. |
| Geminian | 6000 B.C. to 4000 B.C. | Writing, transport, and trade were developed. Symbolized by two people holding hands (seen in the constellation) |
| Taurean | 4000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. | Civilization grows and religion becomes prominent. Represented by the bull. |
| Arian | 2000 B.C. to 1 A.D. | Age of war and exploration. Symbolized by fire, used both for destruction and guidance. |
| Piscean | 1 A.D to Present | Birth of Christ and expansion of Christianity, symbolized by the fish. |
The next age has been named the Age of Aquarius and it will begin sometime around the year 2600, astrologers predict. It will be characterized by freedom and technology, most notably space travel. The Aquarian Age can also be referenced to the 1960s and 1970s, which was a decade of freedom for many countries, but it has still yet to come.
Geologic Time Periods
The geologic time periods are used to explain the development of Earth physically. They are broken up like most other eras, with a new time period beginning when a major change occurs. The largest grouping of time is called an eon, which equates to about one billion years. Eras are the next smallest time period, which are broken up by major events. Periods are smaller than eras, and they are also defined by major events that do not have as global of a scale as an era. Finally, an epoch is the smallest division of time.
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Cosmological Time Periods
Cosmological time periods describe the historical eras of Earth in relation to the Big Bang, the event which created the universe. The follow the same time range breakdowns as geologic time periods. There are five major eras within cosmological time:
- Very Early Universe: The Big Bang occurs and an extremely hot universe is created during the Planck Epoch. Gravity and electromagnetic forces begin to form. The entirety of the era lasted about one second.
* Early Universe: Subatomic particles begin to form and elements are created during the Recombination Epoch. This era lasted from about 370,000 years.
* Dark Ages: Stars and galaxies were formed out of collapsing matter. The existence of water became possible during this era. It lasted from 370,000 years after the Big Bang to 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
* Modern Universe: The world as it is currently seen. Planets were created and life began to exist. This era is ongoing; it is currently estimated to be 12.8 billion years after the Big Bang.
* Future Universe: Stars will no longer be born and radiation will increase.
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This lesson has provided a detailed look at historical eras, periods of time that are linked by commonalities in events. There are many different time periods in history, each of which plays an important role in society as it is known today. After reading this lesson, be able to describe the following information:
- Common historical eras are recognized by historians, religious scholars and scientists. There are three common historical eras.
- The Ancient Era includes both the Prehistoric Era and the Classical Era. It lasted from before 600 B.C.E. to 476 C.E. During these eras, civilization and human knowledge grew exponentially.
- The Post Classical Era is also called the Middle Ages. It lasted from 476 C.E. to around 1500 C.E. Important periods within the Post-Classical Era include the Renaissance and Reformation periods.
- The Modern Era has lasted from 1500 C.E. to the present and contains the Early Modern Era and Current Modern Era. The current period is called the Contemporary period or Information Age.
- Mythological Eras are rooted in religion and culture and are most famously described by Greek and Aztec scholars. Each culture has five different periods in their global creation and destruction stories.
- Astrological Eras are based on human development and are named by the constellations. There have been five complete astrological ages, each lasting about 2000 years.
- Geological time periods are defined by the physical development milestones of the Earth. Eons are the largest time periods, lasting 1 billion years each. Epochs are the smallest time periods, some lasting mere seconds.
- Cosmological time periods exist based on the Big Bang theory of the universe's creation. There are five main areas of cosmologic time.
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Video Transcript
What Is a Historical Era?
Let's say you're sitting in class one day, and your history teacher begins talking about the Great Depression. If you've been paying attention in class, you ought to have a clear idea in your mind of when the Great Depression took place and what characterized it. The same should be true with the Roaring Twenties or the Progressive Era. These are examples of historical eras, also called historical periods. A historical era is a specific time frame historians have classified due to commonalities within that time frame.
The Great Depression is among the easiest eras to identify because of its extreme characteristics. We know it took place throughout the entire decade of the 1930s and was characterized by economic depression, unemployment, poverty, and general hopelessness among the American people. The Roaring Twenties is another easy one to identify, because, well, the term clearly identifies the era as taking place during the 1920s. Yes, this one is kind of a no-brainer. We know the 1920s was a lively decade characterized by prosperity, modernity, technological advances, entertainment, and a rebellion against traditional values. However, during the same time period, the Harlem Renaissance blossomed with emerging art, music, dance, and literature that changed the American art scene forever. But not all eras are so easily categorized. In fact, the time frame of some eras is the subject of much debate among historians. But we will discuss this in more detail shortly.
Common Historical Eras
While we look at some key historical eras, keep in mind that they can be long or very short. For example, the Great Depression lasted little more than a decade, while the Industrial Revolution lasted many decades.
One of the ways history is commonly divided is into three separate eras or periods: the Ancient Period (3600 BC - 500 AD), the Middle Ages (500 -1500), and the Modern Era (1500-present). According to this classification, the eras last hundreds of years, even thousands of years in the case of the Ancient Period.
Now, within the Modern Era we have all kinds of smaller eras, like the Age of Discovery (spanning the 15th-17th century) and the Enlightenment (in the 18th century). The Age of Discovery was characterized by global exploration, particularly in the New World. The Enlightenment was characterized by an emphasis on reason, individualism, humanism, tolerance, and a skepticism of religious tradition.
Other common historical eras include:
- The Industrial Revolution (spanning the 18th/19th centuries - characterized by industrial and technological advances)
- The American Civil War Era (1861-1865 - the war between the Northern and Southern United States)
- The Victorian Era (was in the 19th century - a British era coinciding with the reign of Queen Victoria)
- The Progressive Era (which took place in the late 19th/early 20th century - an American movement marked by social reform)
- World War I (took place from 1914-1918 - a modern global war)
- The Inter-war Period (spanned from 1919-1939 - the period between World War I and World War II)
- World War II (took place between 1939-1945 - a second modern global war)
- The Cold War Era (spanned 1945-early 1990s - a period of intense tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union)
- The Civil Rights Era primarily took place during the 1950s and 1960s but began its formation during the Reconstruction Era following the American Civil War.
Sometimes these eras overlap. For example, the Roaring Twenties, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Inter-war Period took place at the same time, but the terms Roaring Twenties and Harlem Renaissance are usually applied in the context of American history, whereas Inter-war Period is generally used in the context of European history.
How Are Historical Eras Determined?
Considering we have eras within Eras, overlapping eras, and different terminology depending on whether we're talking about European or American history, you might be wondering 'Who decides the time frame of historical eras?' That is a great question, but unfortunately one that is not easily answered. Professional historians are usually influential in determining the classification of historical eras, but it is a process prone to modification. And it takes time.
For example, as to the time we're in right now, we have no idea what future generations will call this time. The Age of Technology? The Era of Global Connectedness? There's no way we can yet predict the name of the era we are currently in. Historians usually need a few years before they can look back and recognize an overarching theme - be it social, economic, or of another kind - to a certain era.
In fact, the names of eras tend to evolve over time and are rarely used during that actual time frame. There are a few exceptions: obviously during the American Civil War, it was called a 'civil war,' and World War II was called 'World War II' while it was taking place, but it is doubtful anyone during the Enlightenment said 'Hey guys, we're in the Enlightenment.' Generally it's only when looking back upon the past that historical eras can be classified.
Also, as we said earlier, there is often much disagreement among historians as to the time frame of various eras. Sometimes eras are marked by decisive events. For example, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 inaugurated the Great Depression. Often times, however, there are no clear beginning and ending 'bookmarks' to define an era. When precisely did the Progressive Era begin and end? That is a subjective question. It just kind of 'grew' into being and then 'faded' away.
Lesson Summary
A historical era is a specific time frame historians have classified due to commonalities within that time frame. Common eras include the Great Depression, the Roaring Twenties, the Progressive Era, the Cold War Era, the Civil Rights Era, and numerous others. One of the ways history is commonly divided is into three separate periods: the Ancient Period (from 3600 BC - 500 AD), the Middle Ages (from 500 -1500), and the Modern Era (from 1500-present).
The Age of Discovery took place between the 15th-17th century and was characterized by global exploration, particularly in the New World. The Enlightenment took place during the 18th century and was characterized by an emphasis on reason, individualism, humanism, tolerance, and a skepticism of religious tradition. Eras are usually classified by historians looking back upon past time periods. While the Stock Market Crash of 1928 ushered in the Great Depression, many eras have no clear beginning and ending marks. Instead, historians often disagree over the precise time frame of eras.
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Historical Eras | Definition & Examples
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