èpoques

Époques is a term used across disciplines to indicate named blocks of time characterized by distinctive features. In general usage, an epoch is a defined span within history or development that marks a shift in social, political, cultural, or technological arrangements. The plural époques acknowledges that multiple such blocks can be identified within a broader timeline, and their boundaries are often subject to scholarly debate.

In historical and cultural contexts, époques denote eras such as Antiquité, Moyen Âge, Temps modernes and Époque contemporaine. Boundaries are not fixed; they depend on the criteria chosen by historians—changes in political regimes, religious transformations, economic systems, or artistic and intellectual movements. The notion of an epoch helps organize narrative and analysis by focusing on characteristic features rather than on precise dates alone.

In geology, an epoch is a subdivision of a geological period. Epochs are defined by the International Commission on Stratigraphy and typically last several millions of years. Notable epochs include the Pleistocène and Holocène, which form part of the Quaternaire.

In astronomy, the term epochs refers to a reference date and equinox used for celestial coordinates. An epoch provides a fixed frame of reference to describe the positions of stars and planets, which change over time due to precession and proper motion. The standard epoch J2000.0 is widely used in modern catalogs.

The concept of epoch thus functions as a heuristic tool to classify time into meaningful blocks across disciplines, balancing descriptive clarity with the complexities of real-world change.