Eras

Your characters can live their adventures in any time period or era you can think of… from past to present to future! Where and when is your narrative going to unfold?

Eras

These are not in any particular order; rather, they are presented as a smorgasbord of possibility for your narrative. Some of them are from human history; others are made up but sound kind of cool for some Sci-Fi or Cyberpunk kind of world. Have fun and please comment if you have some ideas to add or questions!

  • Prehistoric, Ice Age, Oligocene Epoch, Mesolithic, Glacial,
  • Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Assyrian, Sumerian, Phoenician, Mesopotamian,
  • Neolithic, Neolithic Revolution,
  • Paleolithic, Neanderthal, Abbevillian Period, Oldowan, Acheulean,
  • Classical, Baroque, Biblical Times,
  • Dark Ages, Medieval, Feudal, Middle Ages,
  • The Inquisition,
  • Roaring Twenties, Dirty Thirties,
  • Information Age, Internet Age, Y2K,
  • Habsburgs,
  • Ottomans, Abbasid Dynasty,
  • Mongol Empire,
  • Feudal Japan, Meiji Period,
  • Genesis, Adam and Eve, Antediluvian,
  • Hittites, Akkadians,
  • Bronze Age, Iron Age, Stone Age, Copper Age, Silicon Age, New Age,
  • BC (AC), AD,
  • Civil War, The Unrest, The Revolution,
  • Klondike, Frontier, Wild West,
  • Arrival, Departure, Return,
  • Renaissance, Restoration, Reformation,
  • Romanesque, Gothic, Victorian,
  • Unification, Confederation, Dominion,
  • Generation X, Generation Why?
  • WWI, WWII, WWIII, WWIV, WWMCMLII,
  • Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War,
  • La Violencia,
  • Upheaval, Anarchy, Revolution,
  • Intergalactic, Stellar, Interplanetary, One Earth, Interstellar,
  • Armageddon, Apocalyptic, Destruction, Judgement, The Coming, the Great Cataclysm,
  • The Hidden Years, The Forgotten Age, The Unspeakable Century, The Tragic Era,
  • The Rapture, Awakening, Paradise,
  • Cold War, Age of Tension, Post War,
  • Communication Age,
  • Pioneer Age, Settlement, Migration, Colonial Period,
  • Plaguetimes, Age of (insert name of disease here),
  • the Golden Age,
  • Age of Enlightenment, Independence, Freedom, Liberty,
  • Industrial Revolution,
  • Volcanic Age, The Impact Event Millennia,
  • Rise of the Gods, The Titanic Age, The Age of Wrath,
  • Terra Forma,
  • The Big Bang, The (lesser known) Teeny-weeny Pop, The Beginning,
  • Chou Dynasty, Shang,
  • Aztec, Inca, Mayan,
  • Celts, Gauls, Scythian,
  • Disco Generation, The Eighties, The Forties, The Sixties, Dirty Thirties, Roaring Twenties,
  • The Celebratory Years, Victory Times, Era of Triumph,
  • The Time of Trials,

Types of Time Periods

  • time, period, era, epoch, age, eon, aeon,
  • years, ages, date, day, weeks, months,
  • generation, movement,
  • rebellion, insurrection, evolution, revolution, change,
  • century, decade, millennium,
  • cycle, sequence, wheel, round, run,
  • succession, dimension, sequel, precursor,
  • Age of _________, The ___________ Period,
  • annual, anniversary, yearly,
  • quadrennium (4 years) , triennium (3), biennium (2), quinquiennium (5), decennium (10),

Factors to Consider…

When you are thinking of an era for your narrative, here is a menu of stuff you can consider to flesh out your world. You can wing it or you can research a few of these ideas (Google ’em!) to add some realism and depth to your story…

  • culture, society, tradition, heritage, customs,
  • beliefs, religion, rituals, practices, customs, spirituality, dogma, doctrine, philosophy, persecution vs. freedom of belief, secularism, relationship between state and religion, religious grip,
  • knowledge, understanding, science, rationalism, logic, theories,
  • technology, development, tools, weapons, advancements, progress, growth,
  • transportation, movement, distances,
  • settlements, urban vs. rural, cities, towns, colonies,
  • materials, metals, fabrics, woods, synthetics, weaves, alloys, blends, oils, fuels, processes,
  • fashion, style, design, clothes, hats, boots, adornments, body art, hairstyle, accessories,
  • agriculture, cultivation, domestication, farming,
  • buildings, structures, construction, architecture,
  • music, art, dance, song, story, writings, film, painting, photography, pop art, emerging art, protest art, ritual art,
  • ecosystems, plants, animals, flora, fauna, weather, climate, water, terrain, atmosphere, human (or other) impact, pollution, extermination of species,
  • war, warfare, tension, conflict, diplomacy, alliances, allegiances, stalemates, fealty, empires, colonies,
  • political systems, power, leadership, decision-making, democracy, communism, dictatorship, monarchy, feudalism, hierarchy, dystopia, anarchy, utopia, totalitarianism, The Establishment, who is “The Man,” corruption,
  • economic systems, barter, money, ownership, business, investment, market structure, stores, retail, products, resources, financial systems, property values and ownership, land appropriation, crown assets, wages, salaries, unions, worker rights,
  • taxes, tithes, duties, excises, tariffs, garnishment, seizure, protection money, grants, order, requisition, levy, payment, interest, collections, alms,
  • education, training, schooling, guilds, houses, colleges, universities, campuses, grades, studies, learning,
  • jobs, work, careers, trades, professions, occupations, roles, classes, paths, wages, salaries, position, advancement,
  • writings, books, records, documents, papers, data,
  • communication systems, networks, lines, connections,
  • isolation, expulsion, banishment, deportation,
  • law, legal systems, justice, prosecution, judgement, punishment, order, disorder, anarchy, capital punishment, tribunals, inquisition, summary judgement, circuit judges, supreme court,
  • individual vs. collective identity, rights, responsibilities,
  • community systems, health care, education, water, utilities, power, fuel, firefighting, disaster relief, protection and security, safety,
  • institutions, bureaucracy, red tape, permits, insurance, documentation,
  • famine, disease, pestilence, plague, danger,
  • social hierarchy, caste system, slavery, social class mobility, privileged class, homelessness, shanty towns, middle class, merchant class, nobility, royalty,
  • family structure, child rearing, family size, family composition, clan system, extended family relationships and importance, family significance,
  • gender roles, roles based on age, ability, aptitude, education, race, religion, social level, economic level,
  • rights, freedoms, responsibilities, equality, sexism, genderism, racism, oppression, liberty, integration, assimilation, extermination, segregation, deportation, accommodation,
  • aesthetics, recreation, leisure, sport, play, fun,
  • household amenities, furniture, home styles,

Notes and Ideas about Eras

  • a story world can be defined by the change that has taken place in societal, economic, or political terms. Choose a cool sounding name for the current period of your narrative and a contrasting name for the previous period, for better or worse, and watch how that can shape your characters’ world!