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Difficulty: EasyEarth's History and Paleontology

Place the following major divisions of Earth's geologic history in chronological order, from the earliest (oldest) to the most recent.

  1. 1Precambrian Time
  2. 2Paleozoic Era
  3. 3Mesozoic Era
  4. 4Cenozoic Era

Answer

Precambrian Time, Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Cenozoic Era
The correct chronological sequence from oldest to most recent is Precambrian Time (~4.6 billion to 541 million years ago), followed by the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), the Mesozoic Era (252 to 66 million years ago), and finally the Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago to present).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the earliest geologic timeframe
Precambrian Time is the oldest division, representing the first 4 billion years of Earth's history.
It spans from Earth's formation (~4.6 billion years ago) until the emergence of abundant shelly fossils (~541 million years ago).
2
Identify the ancient life era that followed the Precambrian
Paleozoic Era comes second (541 to 252 million years ago).
The name translates to 'ancient life,' characterized by the rise of early marine invertebrates, fish, and primitive land plants and animals.
3
Identify the middle life era
Mesozoic Era comes third (252 to 66 million years ago).
The name translates to 'middle life,' famously dominated by dinosaurs until a mass extinction event ended it.
4
Identify the most recent era
Cenozoic Era is the fourth and final division (66 million years ago to the present).
The name translates to 'recent life,' marked by the rise and dominance of mammals and modern flowering plants.

Key Concept

Geologic Time Scale Chronology
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Earth's History and Paleontology

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