Phanérozoïque

The Phanerozoic Eon is the current geologic eon, stretching from about 541 million years ago to the present day. It is defined by the widespread occurrence of life with hard parts, such as shells and exoskeletons, which are readily preserved in the fossil record. The name "Phanerozoic" comes from the Greek words phaneros, meaning visible, and zoe, meaning life.

This eon is divided into three eras: the Paleozoic Era, the Mesozoic Era, and the Cenozoic Era. The Paleozoic, meaning "ancient life," began with the Cambrian Explosion, a period of rapid diversification of animal life. During this era, marine invertebrates, fish, and early land plants and animals emerged. The Paleozoic ended with the Permian-Triassic extinction event, the largest mass extinction in Earth's history.

The Mesozoic Era, or "middle life," is often called the "Age of Reptiles" due to the dominance of dinosaurs. This era saw the evolution of mammals, birds, and flowering plants. The Mesozoic concluded with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, which wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs.

The Cenozoic Era, or "new life," is characterized by the rise of mammals and birds. This era is further divided into the Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary periods. During the Cenozoic, continents continued to drift to their present positions, and major mountain ranges like the Himalayas and the Alps were formed. Humans evolved during the Quaternary period, the most recent period of the Cenozoic.