Mesozoischen

The Mesozoic Era is a major division of the geologic time scale, spanning from approximately 252 to 66 million years ago. It is known as the "Age of Reptiles" due to the dominance of dinosaurs, which evolved and diversified during this period. The Mesozoic Era is subdivided into three periods: the Triassic, the Jurassic, and the Cretaceous.

The Triassic Period, the earliest of the three, began after the Permian-Triassic extinction event, the most severe extinction in Earth's history. During the Triassic, the supercontinent Pangaea was still largely intact. Reptiles began to diversify, and the first mammals and pterosaurs appeared. The Jurassic Period, famous for its large sauropod dinosaurs like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus, saw Pangaea begin to break apart. The oceans continued to rise, and flowering plants had not yet evolved. The Cretaceous Period, the longest period of the Mesozoic, witnessed the rise of more advanced dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. It also marked the evolution and widespread distribution of flowering plants, transforming terrestrial ecosystems.

The Mesozoic Era ended with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, which wiped out most dinosaurs (except for avian dinosaurs, which evolved into modern birds) and many other species. The cause of this extinction is widely believed to be a large asteroid impact, though volcanic activity may have also played a role. The Mesozoic Era represents a critical period in Earth's history, characterized by dramatic evolutionary changes and significant geological events.