You have just read about 75% of earth’s history. The last thing I need to do is tell you about the last 25%, the fourth geologic era; the Cenozoic Era. The Cenozoic began 65 million years ago and continues to current day.There are currently five time periods in the era.The first time period within this era was the Paleocene (65 million years ago- 57.8 million years ago). The second one is called the Eocene (57.8 million years ago- 36.6 million years ago). The third one is the Oligocene (36.6 million years ago - 23.7 million years ago). Next is the Miocene (23.7 million years ago - 5 million years ago). The fifth one is the Pliocene (5 million years ago - 1.6 million years ago). Then the Pleistocene (1.6 million years ago - 0.1 million years ago). Lastly the Holocene (0.1 million years ago - Today). The Cenozoic Era is nicknamed the “Age of Mammals.” The climate during the Cenozoic Era wasn’t that much different from today. The climate during the beginning of the era was warmer than today’s temperature. The weather and temperature was very consistent. The climate was overall similar. The climate later in the period was exactly like todays. You could infer that the continents are very similar in the beginning of the era and the same exact placement as today during more recent times because the climate is the same as well. If that is what you thought then you are correct. At the beginning of the era the continents were much like the modern day continents but they were a little closer together and more clustered. Later in the era the continents move and form exactly the same as they are today. What happened when these continents were shifting? Well, some of the things that happened are The Himalayas formed due to the collision of India and Asia. Also, the Isthmus of Panama formed when North America and South America collided. Another thing is, Arabia collided with Eurasia which closed the Thethys Ocean.
The Cenozoic Era was called the Age of Mammals due to the life on earth at the time. Some of the animal that evolved in the era were cows and horses. Also earlier in the era homosapiens which are earlier ancestors of the human. Lastly a plant that evolved was grass.
Now would be the time to talk about how the era ended. But the Cenozoic Era is still continuing. Even right this minute the Cenozoic Era is still happening.
You have completed reading about earth’s history from 4.6 billion years all the way through millions of years until current day.
These are the current Cenozoic continents.
Cows and horses evolved in this era.
This image represents the climate of the Cenozoic Era
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