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Earth's History
Geologic Time
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| fossil | the preserved remains or traces of a once-living organism found in rock |
| geologic time | the long history of Earth, divided into different time periods based on major changes in life and the planet |
| Precambrian | the earliest and longest part of Earth’s history, when the first simple cells (prokaryotes) appeared; 4,600–541 MYA |
| Paleozoic | the era when many early life forms developed, including fish, insects, and the first land plants and animals; 541–252 MYA |
| Mesozoic | the era known as the “Age of Dinosaurs,” when dinosaurs lived and reptiles were common; 252–66 MYA |
| Cenozoic | the era we live in today, known as the “Age of Mammals,” when mammals became the dominant life forms on Earth; 66 MYA–Present |