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The Paleozoic Era is one of the most significant divisions of Earth’s geological timescale, marking a major chapter in the planet’s biological and environmental history. It lasted approximately 289 million years, beginning around 541 million years ago and ending about 252 million years ago. This era is the earliest of the three major Phanerozoic eons, followed by the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. The name “Paleozoic” comes from Greek roots meaning “ancient life,” and it indeed saw the emergence and diversification of many life forms. The era began with the Cambrian Period, known for the “Cambrian Explosion,” a remarkable evolutionary event when most major animal groups first appeared in the fossil record.
Throughout the Paleozoic Era, Earth underwent massive geological, climatic, and biological changes. It included six main periods:
Cambrian – Explosion of marine life.
Ordovician – Development of diverse marine ecosystems.
Silurian – First land plants and arthropods.
Devonian – Known as the “Age of Fishes.”
Carboniferous – Formation of extensive coal forests; first reptiles appear.
Permian – Ended with the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.
During this era, continents gradually shifted, colliding to form the supercontinent Pangaea. Life moved from oceans onto land, plants evolved into complex forms, and vertebrates adapted to terrestrial habitats.
The Paleozoic Era ended with the Permian-Triassic extinction event, which wiped out around 90% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species. Despite this catastrophic end, the Paleozoic laid the foundation for the evolutionary paths that followed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras.
In contrast, the Hijri, English, and Saka eras are human-created calendar systems, much younger in history compared to geological eras. Therefore, scientifically, the Paleozoic Era is the oldest among the given options.
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