The Cenozoic began 66 million years ago, after the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs. Mammals and birds diversified into the forms we know, grasslands spread, and the Indian plate collided with Asia to raise the Himalaya.
On Chronyas this scene covers the time up to about 300,000 years ago, including the first apes and hominins and the start of the Quaternary ice ages around 2.58 million years ago.
Explore this era on the timeline
Key events of the Cenozoic
32 events are on the timeline for this era; these are among the most notable, in date order.
- about 66 million years agoChicxulub asteroid impact
- about 56 million years agoPaleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum
- about 56 million years agoEarliest known primates
- about 54 million years agoEocene Thermal Maximum 2
- about 50 million years agoIndia collides with Asia
- about 34 million years agoAntarctica freezes over
- about 33.9 million years agoEocene–Oligocene extinction event
- from about 25 million years ago to 18.5 million years agoCat gap
- about 15 million years agoRies-Steinheim impact event
- about 14 million years agoMiddle Miocene disruption
- about 7 million years agoSahelanthropus, one of the earliest hominins
- about 6 million years agoEarliest probable human ancestors
- about 5.33 million years agoZanclean flood
- from about 3.3 million years ago to 15,000 years agoPaleolithic
- from about 3.3 million years ago to 302,000 years agoLower Paleolithic
- about 3.3 million years agoOldest known stone tools
- about 2.8 million years agoEarliest fossils of the genus Homo
- about 2.7 million years agoGreat American Interchange
- about 2.6 million years agoOldowan
- about 2.58 million years agoStart of the Quaternary ice ages
- from about 2.5 million years ago to 132,000 years agoEarly Stone Age
- about 1.8 million years agoHomo erectus appears
- from about 1.76 million years ago to 150,000 years agoAcheulean
- about 1.5 million years agoMadrasian Culture
- about 790,000 years agoEarliest controlled use of fire
- from about 602,000 years ago to 402,000 years agoAbbevillian
- from about 502,000 years ago to 127,000 years agoSoanian
- about 478,000 years agoOrigins of Kalambo
- about 402,000 years agoVenus of Tan-Tan
- from about 315,000 years ago to 33,000 years agoMousterian
- from about 302,000 years ago to 32,000 years agoMiddle Paleolithic
- from about 302,000 years ago to 202,000 years agoClactonian