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Distant past

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The distant past is a broad term to define a period spanning billions of years from the birth of the universe to the start of the common era. Most dates prior to the last few centuries prior to the common era are given as rough generalizations and, for example, are not exactly "five thousand years" before the reference point, but a reasonable approximation. Events dated as "Y BCE" are more precise, with approximations noted.

The notation BCE ("Before the Common Era") and CE ("Common Era") are alternative notations for BC ("Before Christ") and AD ("anno Domini"), respectively.

Billions of years ago[]

15 – 13 billion years ago[]

  • The birth of the universe, the exact cause of which was still debated well after the 24th century. One theory postulated that the primal source of energy for the initial explosion and expansion phase was the Omega molecule, though some regarded that as just another creation myth. (VOY: "Death Wish", "The Omega Directive", "Latent Image", "Good Shepherd")
Presumably, other universes, and possibly the multiverse itself, were formed at the same time, though older universes may also have continued to exist.

9 billion years ago[]

  • The black cluster is formed when hundreds of protostars collapse in close proximity; by the 24th century, it will be one of the oldest known astronomical phenomena in the Milky Way galaxy. (TNG: "Hero Worship")

7 billion years ago[]

  • In Valen's universe (at least), Lorien is born, the first sentient being in the Milky Way galaxy. He and the earliest generations of his species were functionally immortal, though this changed in time, with the younger generations eventually aging and dying out until only Lorien and the other First Born were left. (Babylon 5: "Into the Fire")

6 billion years ago[]

  • Gamma-ray bursts and energy emissions within the developing Milky Way galaxy lessen enough that complex multicellular life begins to evolve more frequently during this era. (TNG novel: The Buried Age)

5 – 4.5 billion years ago[]

  • On the planet that would become known as Beta Durani VII, an unknown species builds an underground city some 8 miles (12.8 km) beneath the surface. (Babylon 5: Legend of the Rangers)
  • The first humanoid species evolves in the Milky Way galaxy. When they travel to the stars, they find themselves alone. They seeded the primordial oceans of many worlds with DNA, thereby becoming the progenitors of countless lifeforms across the galaxy, including Humans, Vulcans, Klingons, Cardassians and many other humanoid species. Before their time had passed, they encoded a genetic message into specific DNA sequences on far flung worlds, hoping that their "descendants" would come together and learn about them. (TNG: "The Chase")
It is possible that humanoid-like lifeforms already existed in other galaxies.

4 billion years ago[]

2 billion years ago[]

  • Civilization flourishes on Tagus III. (TNG: "Q-Pid")

1 billion years ago[]

  • According to one account, the Slaver Empire rules over every intelligent species in the Milky Way galaxy. One species' revolt led to a devastating war which exterminated the Slavers and all their subject races, forcing sapient life to "re-evolve" in the galaxy. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")
  • In Valen's universe, the First Ones exile a powerful group of beings known as The Hand to a parallel dimension through a gateway in the underground city on Beta Durani VII. They leave a record of the Hand's deeds and a warning about their potential return, however knowledge of the city and the gateway are eventually lost to time.

Millions of years ago[]

400 – 300 million years ago[]

  • The last common ancestor of warm-blooded and cold-blooded lifeforms, the eryops, lives on Earth. (VOY: "Distant Origin")

300 million years ago[]

circa 252,000,000 BCE[]

  • According to one account, a galaxy-wide extinction event occurs in the Milky Way when one species forcibly tries to ascend to a higher plane of existence. More than 90% of life in the galaxy either transcends physical form, or is destroyed by the psionic feedback and exotic radiation. (TNG novel: The Buried Age)

200 million years ago[]

  • In the Stargate universe, the humanoid Alterans evolve in their home galaxy "hundreds of millions of years ago," and progress along the path to ascension. Eventually they will split into two factions, the Ori and one who will become known as the Ancients. (SG1: "The Forth Horseman, Part 1")

100 million years ago[]

  • Following the extinction event of 150 million years earlier, sentient lifeforms begin to evolve in the Milky Way galaxy again. (TNG novel: The Buried Age)

65 million years ago[]

  • Prior to the extinction, the ancestors of the Voth leave Earth, though it is unclear if they did so aboard their own spacecraft, or were transplanted by another species, such as the Preservers. They will eventually settle in the Delta Quadrant. (VOY: "Distant Origin")
  • Also before the extinction, another species of dinosaur, an evolved form of Troodon was rising to sapience. In order to give them a chance to continue along their evolutionary path, the Preservers transplanted the species to another world, where they became the ancestors of the Clan Ru. (TOS novel: First Frontier)

50 million years ago[]

  • In the Stargate universe (at least), the schism in Alteran society reaches its height when the Ori zealots attempt to destroy the opposing faction, who are forced to leave their home galaxy in order to survive. After thousands of years of searching for a safe haven, the refugees discover the Milky Way galaxy and settle on the planet Dakara. Over the next twenty to forty million years, they form a galaxy-spanning civilization, colonizing many worlds (including Earth), leaving stargates behind, and will become known as the Ancients." (Stargate: The Ark of Truth)

30 million years ago[]

  • Around this time, the Orion Nebula supernova remnant is formed.

22 million years ago[]

15 million years ago[]

11 million years ago[]

10 million years ago[]

  • According to The Doctor, the Time Lords had gained "absolute power" by this time. It was the era of their triumph over the Yssgaroth, and the end of the "Dark Times" of the universe. (DW: The Ultimate Foe)
  • In the Stargate universe (at least), a plague spreads among the Ancients, possibly engineered by the Ori, for which they are unable to find a cure. Many of them will finally ascend to a higher plane of existence in order to survive, while the uninfected will leave the Milky Way for the Pegasus galaxy. (Stargate: Atlantis: "Rising")

3.5 million years ago[]

  • In Valen's universe, the Vorlons visit Earth and genetically manipulate the primitive primates there to view them as they wish to be seen, rather than in their natural form. They will repeat this process on many worlds throughout the galaxy. (Babylon 5)

2 million years ago[]

  • On Gateway, the city of Oyya is constructed, spanning some 2,000 square kilometers, located near the Guardian of Forever. (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever", the ruins are "at least a million years old.)

1.5 million years ago[]

  • In Valen's universe, having manipulated so many species into believing them to be gods, the Vorlons grow in hubris and begin to see themselves as gods. They construct a gateway to pierce into a higher dimension, thinking they would commune with the universe itself. Instead, what they encounter is an even older, malevolent race of entities, all of them telepathic, bent on exterminating all life other than their own. These beings use the gate to amplify their own telepathy, and many Vorlons fall under their sway. Those who are not controlled fight back and disable the gate, though those still under mental domination drop it into hyperspace to hide it before it can be destroyed. The Vorlons will retain a racial memory of these events, passed down to each generation and their servitors. (Babylon 5: Thirdspace)
  • Around this time, in Valen's universe, the Vorlons return to Earth and take genetic samples from homo erectus. They will repeat the process on many other worlds, experimenting and recombining the harvested DNA to foster the development of telepathy in these sentient species. (Babylon 5: "The Nautilus Coil")

1 million years ago[]

  • Archaeological records in the 23rd century indicate that faster-than-light space travel was commonplace during this era. (FASA: The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge)
  • The Chodak Empire reigns over a large portion of the Beta Quadrant, centered around an area of what would be come known as the Romulan Neutral Zone. (TNG: A Final Unity)
  • In Valen's universe, many of the First Ones grow tired of looking after the younger races. Many will depart beyond the Rim. The Vorlons and the Shadows remain to "shepherd" the younger species, and begin warring with each other over their differing philosophical viewpoints. They will abide by "rules of engagement" set down by Lorien. (Babylon 5)

Hundreds of thousands of years ago[]

900,000 years ago[]

600,000 years ago[]

500,000 years ago[]

  • The planet Arret is rendered uninhabitable when it loses its atmosphere as the result of a massive Civil War. (TOS: "Return to Tomorrow")
  • Civilization on Bajor flourishes during this era. (TNG: "Ensign Ro")
  • Exo III becomes uninhabitable when its sun beings to dim. The inhabitants relocate underground, and begin to construct androids like Ruk. (TOS: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?")

200,000 years ago[]

  • The Iconian civilization is presumed destroyed when other species who coveted their power began an orbital bombardment of their homeworld. (TNG: "Contagion")
  • An octonary star system is created around the planet Aia in the Beta Quadrant. It would eventually come to be known to the Romulans as the Eightfold Stars. (PIC: "Broken Pieces")
  • According to one account, civilization flourishes on the planet Kobol, where it is said the people "live in utopia with the gods. (Battlestar Galactica)

170,000 years ago[]

160,000 – 150,000 years ago[]

  • According to one account:
  • The inhabitants of Kobol undertake an exodus from their planet, twelve tribes or faction go on to establish the Twelve Colonies, while and the Thirteenth Tribe begins its journey to a more distant planet they colonize. (Battlestar Galactica)
  • Some 4,000 years after the exodus from Kobol, the Twelve Colonies are destroyed by their artificial creations. A group of around 50,000 survivors sets off in search of the mythical planet of the lost Thirteenth Tribe, hoping to find refuge. (Battlestar Galactica)
  • After a journey of roughly three- to four-thousand light-years, the survivors of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol arrive at the home of the Thirteenth Tribe, only to find it destroyed by nuclear warefare. They eventually find and settle on Earth in the same stellar neighborhood, coexisting and interbreeding with early humanity. (Battlestar Galactica)

100,000 years ago[]

  • A subspace communications network is constructed, possibly by the ancient Hirogen. It spans a large area encompassing parts of the Delta and Beta Quadrants. (VOY: "Message in a Bottle", "Hunters")
  • According to another account, the following events take place "many millennia ago":
  • "The human race" begins on a planet known as Parnassus which will become known in myth as "the font of all humanity." Like all iterations of human-kind, the inhabitants of Parnassus eventually fought amongst themselves.
  • The House of Kobol, a family of priests, live in seclusion on Parnassus, and devote themselves to self-improvement rather than warfare. While taking few acolytes, they gained many followers. Over "long millennia," they develop mental abilities far superior to other humans, including telepathy and clairvoyance, and become known as the Lords of Kobol.
  • After centuries developing spaceflight, the humans of Parnassus establish colonies and outposts on many other planets to alleviate the overpopulation of their world. They explore their galaxy, encountering other lifeforms, including a race of technologically primitive, but sentient reptilians from a planet called Cylon. These Cylons are savage and aggressive, even by human standards, and the Parnassans gave them a wide berth, believing them to be no threat.
  • During this period of exploration, the Lords of Kobol continue to evolve to the point where even time seems irrelevant to them, eventually reaching an "advancement to the light," while they watch their rival Houses colonize planets hundreds of light-years away. Several of these worlds already possess indigenous sentient life, including Earth, and the Parnassans begin to influence the evolution of these species. (Battlestar Galactica novel: Armageddon)

Tens of thousands of years ago[]

  • According to one account:
  • On the planet Parnassus, the Lords of Kobol realize their system's star will soon go nova, and begin to plan their exodus. When they finally leave Parnassus centuries later, most of the rest of the planet's population had already left for their colonies. The Lords of Kobol led their acolytes and followers to a remote, hidden planet, which they would name Kobol, after themselves.
  • Within mere centuries, the Koballians begin to squabble amongst themselves just as their ancestors had on Parnassus. In response, the Lords of Kobol make a drastic decision, and simply leave, abandoning their acolytes and followers as they continue their quest to improve themselves. This sudden departure will eventually be recalled as that of the lost "Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol."
  • Continuing their quest to "improve" themselves, the ascended Lords of Kobol may visit Earth during this era. (Battlestar Galactica novel: Armageddon)

90,000 years ago[]

  • The Zalkat Union flourishes, spreading from Beta Aurigae VII across much of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. The Zalkatians are led by the tyrant Malkus, whose reign would reputedly last thousands of years before eventually being overthrown, with his instruments of power hidden on four worlds across the Union. (ST novel: The Brave and the Bold)

10,000 years ago[]

  • circa 8,740 BCE: In Valen's universe, this is the era of the last "Great War" between the Shadows and the Vorlons until the 13th century. The Vorlons and the remaining First Ones drive the Shadows back to Z'ha'dum. Afterwards, the First Ones will retreat into hiding, to watch for the Shadows' return. (Babylon 5)
  • circa 7,800 BCE:: The inhabitants of the planet Ralga evolve beyond the need for physical bodies and begin to ascend to a higher plane of existence. In Valen's universe, the Soul Hunters misinterpret this as a "mass extinction" and arrive at Ralga en masse to collect the souls of the Ralgans' before they "die," thereby unintentionally interrupting their ascension. The Soul Hunters place the Ralgan essences in a receptacle, which they stored in one of their Whisper Galleries. (Babylon 5: The River of Souls)
  • On Ceti IV, an underground city is abandoned. (Crusade: "War Zone")

Thousands of years ago[]

9,000 years ago[]

7,000 years ago[]

  • During this era, the Koballians colonize a system of twelve planets in a star cluster called Cyrannus, which will eventually become known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. The remnants of the House of Kobol settle on one of these worlds, Caprica, where their bloodline will endure, enabling their own descendants to achieve the mental powers (and eventual ascension) of the Lords of Kobol. (Battlestar Galactica; BSG novel: Armageddon)

6,000 years ago[]

  • Through war, overpopulation and environmental pollution, the Koballians render their world uninhabitable, and the Twelve Tribes of Kobol leave for the Colonies, while the Thirteenth Tribe is said to set off for distant Earth. (Battlestar Galactica)

5,000 years ago[]

  • 2792 BCE: This year possibly marks the start of the calendar used by the Twelve Colonies. (Battlestar Galactica)
  • circa 2700 BCE: An advanced race of beings arrives on Earth, and are worshiped as gods by the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region. They will form the basis of Greco-Roman mythology, and possibly Norse and Egyptian mythologies as well. Explorers by nature, they eventually leave Earth and visit other planets, including Magna Roma, and possibly Vulcan and Romulus. Over the millennia, most of them leave this plain of existence, and by the 23rd century on Apollo will remain on the planet Pollux IV, waiting for humans to reach the stars and find their "gods" again. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais"; NF novel: Gods Above, et. al)

4,000 years ago[]

3,000 – 2,000 years ago[]

  • circa 850 - 800 BCE: The Vulcans build a monastery on the planet P'Jem. (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")
  • circa 400 BCE: A group of Sahndaran refugees, who left their home before its star went supernova, arrive on Earth and live among the Greeks during the time of Plato and Socrates. After the fall of Greek civilization, they leave Earth, and settle on a planet they name Platonius. (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")
  • circa 326 BCE: A Crystalline Entity destroys all life on the planet Dulugai in the Shackleton Expanse. (SOT: "The Quiet As the Grave")
Timeline
Distant Past Early Common Era 20th Century 21st Century 22nd Century 23rd Century 24th Century 25th Century Second half of the Millennium Far Future

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