The categorisation of the past into discrete, quantified named blocks of time is called periodization.[1] This is a list of such named time periods as defined in various fields of study.
These can be divided broadly into prehistorical periods and historical periods (when written records began to be kept).
In archaeology and anthropology, prehistory is subdivided around the three-age system, this list includes the use of the three-age system as well as a number of various designation used in reference to sub-ages within the traditional three.
The dates for each age can vary by region. On the geologic time scale, the Holocene epoch starts at the end of the last glacial period of the current ice age (c. 10,000 BC) and continues to the present. The beginning of the Mesolithic is usually considered to correspond to the beginning of the Holocene epoch.
Pre-Columbian America
Colonial America
Archaic Southeast Asia
Modern Southeast Asia
Bronze Age China prechaic china[clarification needed]
earliest dynastic china
Archaic China archaicic china[clarification needed]
divistates of China[clarification needed]
Antiquity mid dynastic periods
Medieval China
Mongol China
Late Dynastic Period
Modern China
Contemporary China
Post-Contemporary China[clarification needed]
Antiquity
Medieval Mongolia
Imperial Mongolia
Modern Mongolia
Prehistoric Egypt (pre-3150 BC) Dynastic Period
Antiquity
Islamic Egypt
Medieval Egypt
Modern Egypt
Contemporary Egypt
Ancient age:
Medieval age:
Modern age:
Archaic Japan
Feudal Japan
Samurai Japan
Modern Japan
Contemporary Japan
Imperial Period
Islamic Period
Prehistoric Libya
Early Libya
Modern Libya
Ancient and Pre-Columbian Mexico
Colonial Mexico
Independence Era
Liberal Mexico
Modern Mexico
Pre-Colonial era
Thirteen British Colonies (1607–1775)
United Colonies (1775-1781)
Confederation period (1781-1789)
First Party System (1789–1824)
Second Party System (1824–1856)
Third Party System (1856–1896)
Fourth Party System (1896–1932)
Fifth Party System (1932–1980)
Sixth Party System (1980–present)