Epic Earth

Contents
Introduction .................................. 6
The Earth's Many Eras .................................. 8
The Precambrian .................................. 11
The Paleozoic Era .................................. 19
The Cambrian Period .................................. 19
The Ordovician Period .................................. 33
The Silurian Period .................................. 45
The Devonian Period .................................. 59
The Carboniferous Period .................................. 73
The Permian Period .................................. 89
The Mesozoic Era .................................. 105
The Triassic Period .................................. 105
The Jurassic Period .................................. 129
The Cretaceous Period .................................. 151
The Cenozoic Era .................................. 183
The Paleogene Period .................................. 183
The Neogene Period .................................. 207
The Quaternary Period .................................. 227
Where We Are Headed .................................. 254
Glossary .................................. 256
References .................................. 260
Index .................................. 264
Image Credits .................................. 270
About the Author .................................. 271