Holocene calendar

This calendar system adds 10,000 years to the current Anno Domini (AD) system, marking the approximate start of the current geological epoch, the Holocene. This epoch began roughly 12,000 years ago, so in this calendar system, the year 2023 AD would be 12,023 HE.

The Holocene calendar emphasizes the entirety of human history by acknowledging the significant time before the year 1 Anno Domini (translated as "The Year of Our Lord").

The Holocene Era

The Holocene epoch is the current geological time period that started about 12,000 years ago, after the last major ice age. It follows the Pleistocene epoch and marks the beginning of significant human impact on the environment.

The Holocene has seen all of humanity's recorded history and the rise and growth of civilizations. Key features of this period include a relatively stable and warm climate and the extinction of various species due to human activity.

Its name comes from the Greek words "holos", meaning entire or whole, and "kainos", meaning new or recent.

Major Epochs in the Earth's history

• Precambrian Eon (from the formation of Earth about 4.6 billion years ago to about 541 million years ago): This eon is divided into the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic eras, and covers the formation of the Earth and the first appearance of life.

• Paleozoic Era (541 to 252.2 million years ago): This era is subdivided into six periods including the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian. It's marked by the rise of fish, land plants, and the first land-dwelling organisms.

• Mesozoic Era (252.2 to 66 million years ago): This era, known as the Age of Dinosaurs, is divided into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

• Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago to present): The era we're currently in, and it's known as the Age of Mammals. It's divided into three periods and seven epochs:

  • Paleogene Period (66 to 23 million years ago): Divided into Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs.
  • Neogene Period (23 to 2.6 million years ago): Divided into Miocene and Pliocene epochs.
  • Quaternary Period (2.6 million years ago to present): Divided into Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. The Pleistocene saw the most recent ice ages, and the Holocene (starting around 11,700 years ago to the present) is the epoch we're currently in, characterized by the rise of human civilization.