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Billions of years ago[]

More than 10 billion years ago[]

Just 'before' the universe

Just "before" the Universe, as seen by Voyager's crew

Big Bang

The crew of Voyager view the birth of the Universe

Current real-world scientific evidence indicates the age of the universe to be 13.799 ± 0.021 billion years.
In VOY: "Latent Image", the Doctor said that the primordial atom burst occurred 20 billion years ago.
In VOY: "Good Shepherd", an engineer said that the cosmos was 16 billion years old {which was the estimated age during the filming of the episode}. In the same episode Cosmologist Mortimer Harren said he was about to disprove Schlezholt's Theory of Multiple Big Bangs and had to demolish Wang's Second Postulate to do it. But Kathryn Janeway considered that Wang's second postulate has more lives than a cat.
According to VOY: "The Omega Directive", Federation cosmologists had a theory that the Omega molecule once existed in nature for an infinitesimal period of time at the exact moment of the big bang, some even claimed Omega was the primal source of energy for the explosion that began our universe, but others thought it was just a creation myth like any other.

  • The birth of the Universe represents a hideout for members of the Q Continuum. The USS Voyager was briefly transported here by Quinn in order to escape Q, but he too had once used this hideout and was thus able to find the ship. (VOY: "Death Wish")

No datation was given in that episode. Quinn only mentions that there's actually no universe outside.


Current real-world scientific evidence indicate that most galaxies are more than 10 billion years old, including the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.

According to an okudagram from TNG: "The Royale", showing data about planet Theta VIII, its age was "7.2e10×1010 solar years", i.e., 72 billion years old.

9 billion years ago[]

In 2368, the USS Enterprise-D crew indicate that the Black Cluster was formed nine billion years ago.

5 billion years ago[]

In 2373, she was angry being tossed aside by Q for someone five billion years younger (Kathryn Janeway). Considering the time traveller nature of the Q, this comment could refer to a duration rather than a datation.

4.5 billion years ago[]

It told Captain James T. Kirk and Spock that it had awaited a question "since before your sun burned hot in space."

Current real-world scientific evidence indicate that Sol was formed 4.57 billion years, and that Earth was formed 4.54 billion years.

Ancient humanoid

Ancient humanoid

Analysis made by the USS Enterprise-D crew in 2368 estimate the genetic program to be over four billion years old.

4 billion years ago[]

In 2373, they were involved for about four billion years. Considering the time traveller nature of the Q, this comment could refer to a duration rather than a datation.

USS Enterprise sensors in 2267 indicate an approximate age of four billion years.

3.5 billion years ago[]

Earth, 3

France billions of years ago in an alternate past

Q refers to three and a half billion years ago, "give or take an aeon".

According to current real-world science, there is evidence that suggests life took hold on Earth already between 3.8 and 4.1 billion years ago [1] and flourished in the oceans by at least 3.7 billion years ago. [2]

2 billion years ago[]

In 2367, Q proposed Picard to see Tagus as it was two billion years ago, and commented that "they really knew how to party back in those days".

It was not elaborated whether this civilization was already Taguan or some preceding species.

1 billion years ago[]

Slaver

A possible depiction of a Slaver

  • The Slaver Empire is the master of all intelligent beings in the Milky Way Galaxy. The Slavers and all of their subjects are exterminated in a massive war which caused all intelligent life to re-evolve. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

In 2269, history of the Slaver Empire was considered sketchy. The stasis boxes were the rare source of information the Federation had at their disposal.

Millions of years ago[]

400 million years ago[]

According to real-world science, Eryops lived some hundred million years later during the Permian period.

300 million years ago[]

In 2269, retro analysis of the ship's spectra dates it as having been in orbit here for slightly more than 300 million years.

87 million years ago[]

In 2370, USS Enterprise-D encountered this object in sector 1156 and calculated, based on its origin in the D'Arsay system, that it spent 87 million years drifting in space for over two sectors.

65 million years ago[]

In 2154, Jonathan Archer indicate that a comet hit his world around 65 million years ago, causing a mass extinction, most of the reptiles died out and mammals became the dominant species.

In 2373, USS Voyager crew discussed about the hadrosaur who vanished when a mass extinction occurred at the end of the Cretaceous Period, and asked the computer to run a genome projection algorithm if the hadrosaur had continued to evolve over the last 65 million years.

  • According to the Distant Origin Theory, some of Earth's dinosaurs belonging to the hadrosaur genus survive the mass extinction. Although the dominant reptile superorder was almost wiped out, these surviving dinosaurs continue to develop, likely on a secluded, later destroyed landmass. Sometime thereafter, they possibly become one of the first interstellar species in the galaxy when they leave Earth and travel to the Delta Quadrant, laying the foundation for the Voth civilization. (VOY: "Distant Origin")

While Dr. Forra Gegen suggests this hypothesis for the origin of the Voth, Chakotay later theorizes that the Voth's ancestors left before the extinction event, the impending catastrophe being what motivated them to do so in the first place.

50 million years ago[]

When Deanna Troi was affected by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome in 2370, she de-evolved into an amphibious lifeform which became extinct over 50 million years ago. Considering her mixed heritage, no information was given on the origin of this lifeform (Betazed or Earth).

20 million years ago[]

  • Now considering themselves a race indigenous to the Delta Quadrant, the recorded history and identity of the Voth dates back to around this time. (VOY: "Distant Origin", "Friendship One")

In 2373, the Ministry of Elders was reluctant to deny 20 million years of history and Doctrine just because one insignificant saurian has a theory.

10 million years ago[]

6 million years ago[]

5,997,626 BC[]

1 million years ago[]

Tricorder analysis in 2267 revealed the ruins to be on the order of 10,000 centuries old.

Indeterminate[]

Ayelborne said that his people had evolved beyond the need for physical bodies "millions of years ago."

Jean-Luc Picard stated that the ancient Bajoran civilization was flourishing "when Humans were not yet standing erect". According to real world science, the evolution of Human bipedalism can be traced back to several primate species between 4 and 7 million years ago, and the emergence of Homo erectus to about 2 million years ago.

In 2372, Hanon IV was an M-Class planet in a Pliocene stage of evolution comparable to Earth several million years ago.

According to real-world science, the Pliocene epoch spans from 5.33 million to 2.58 million years on Earth.

Hundreds of thousands of years ago[]

600,000 years ago[]

In 2364, the T'kon civilization had been extinct for 600,000 years by the 2360s according to Federation databases.

In 2268, Sargon indicated that their vessels were colonizing this galaxy six thousand centuries prior.

500,000 years ago[]

In 2268, scans of the USS Enterprise revealed that the planet's atmosphere was ripped away by a cataclysm, about a half million years ago.

In 2266, scans of the USS Enterprise revealed that this system's sun had been fading steadily for a half million years.

200,000 years ago[]

In 2372, Benjamin Sisko said that they controlled a vast interstellar empire about 200,000 years ago.

In 2364, USS Enterprise-D scans estimated that the destruction of Iconia occurred approximately 200,000 years ago.

In 2375, USS Voyager encountered this creature whose age was estimated at least 200,000 years old.

In 2399, Raffi Musiker indicated that somebody dragged eight suns together, two or three hundred thousand years ago.

100,000 years ago[]

Hirogen relay station

Hirogen relay station

In 2374, USS Voyager encountered a relay station whose age was estimated at least 100,000 years old.

In 2375, USS Voyager crew found a field reactor whose age was at least 100,000 years old.

This story is set "a thousand centuries ago" (before 2230s and 2257).

Indeterminate[]

In 2254, Vina said the war occurred "thousands of centuries ago".

According to Star Trek: Star Charts, p. 34, the Talosians become warp-capable 500,000 years ago. According to the All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook, the Talosian wars occurred 400,000 years ago.

  • A Sphere-shaped lifeform that died in the mid-23rd century dates back to this era. It records everything it sees and experiences starting around this time as well, including data on countless civilizations. (DIS: "Project Daedalus")

In "An Obol for Charon" (2257), initial scans suggest the sphere is only one hundred thousand years old, but this seems to have been revised to hundreds of thousands years by Project Daedalus.

  • According to Guinan, the Borg began their evolution into cybernetic beings thousand of centuries before the 2360s. (TNG: "Q Who")

In 2365, Guinan told that "They're made up of organic and artificial life which has been developing for thousands of centuries." No information was given on the source of that information.

Star Trek: Destiny presented a different point of origin for the Borg.

Tens of thousands of years ago[]

50,000 years ago[]

Circa 48,000 BC

In 2267, Spock discovered that every 50,000 years, the entire race died, all but one who cared for the eggs.

In 2268, Bele indicated that he has been pursuing Lokai "for 50,000 of your terrestrial years".

45,000 years ago[]

Ancient Sky Spirit

Ancient Sky Spirit

Circa 43,000 BC

  • Extraterrestrial visitors, known as the "Sky Spirits", visit a people on Earth who become the indigenous inhabitants of America. (VOY: "Tattoo")

In 2372, Chakotay found the "Sky Spirits" in the Delta Quadrant. One of them recalled their first visit on Earth 45,000 years ago.

30,000 years ago[]

Circa 28,000 BC

In 2369, during the auction of a statue depicting the prime ossemite Drohlak of the Nineteenth Dynasty, Vash indicated that the Verathan civilisation reached its height some 30,000 years ago.

In 2374, archeologists determined that the walls below the temple of B'hala predate the ancient city of B'hala {20,000 years ago} by 10,000 years, but they didn't know much about the first inhabitants. They have also found inside a stone artefact over 30,000 years old.

28,000 years ago[]

25,000 years ago[]

Circa 23,000 BC

  • The stone tablet city in Bajor is abandoned, sediments bury the ruins, and eventually the ancient city of B'hala is built on top. (DS9: "The Reckoning")

In 2374, archeologists estimated that this site was abandoned some 25,000 years ago.

22,000 years ago[]

Circa 20,000 BC

  • The first of at least 947 archaeological expeditions is conducted at the ancient ruins on Tagus III. (TNG: "Qpid")

In 2367, Jean-Luc Picard indicated that there had been 947 known archaeological excavations on the planet's surface, the earliest was some 22,000 years ago.

20,000 years ago[]

Circa 18,000 BC

Bhala

Icon painting of B'hala

  • The Bajoran Holy City of B'hala is lost to history. (DS9: "Rapture")

Until its discovery in 2373, the City of B'hala was missing for 20,000 years and was considered a myth. A Bajoran icon painted nearly 20,000 years ago was the only known proof that B'hala ever existed.

12,000 years ago[]

Kurlan naiskos

Kurlan naiskos

Circa 10,000 BC

In 2369, Professor Galen offered a 12,000 year old Kurlan naiskos to Jean-Luc Picard.

10,000 years ago[]

Circa 8,000 BC

In "The Dogs of War", Weyoun 8 euphorically claims that "the Dominion hasn't surrendered in battle since it was founded ten thousand years ago." This seems to contradict Weyoun 4 in "To the Death", who states "The Dominion has endured for two thousand years [...]."

In DS9: "Little Green Men", Nog states that it "took [ten thousand years] to establish the Ferengi Alliance", which implies it dates back to 8000 BC or earlier. This might also imply that Gint, the first Grand Nagus and original author of the Rules of Acquisition lived at this time, if he is considered the founder of the Alliance.

Indeterminate[]

Duana stated that this was "hundreds of centuries ago."

Thousands of years ago[]

9,000 years ago[]

circa 6600 BC
The Zakdorn earn a reputation as brilliant strategists. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

In 2365, Data indicated that for over nine millennia, foes have regarded the Zakdorns as having the greatest strategic minds in the galaxy.

6,000 years ago[]

circa 4000 BC
Unknown aliens remove several Humans from Earth to be eugenically bred on a distant planet, lest Humanity destroy itself in its early technological age. Gary Seven, Agent 201 and Agent 347 will be among their descendants. (TOS: "Assignment: Earth")

In 1968, USS Enterprise met Gary Seven, a descendant of Human ancestors taken from Earth approximately 6,000 years ago.

3834 BC
Akharin is born in Mesopotamia on Earth. A soldier felled in battle, he soon realizes that no injury can kill him. He goes on through many aliases, becoming the immortal known as Flint. (TOS: "Requiem for Methuselah")

Birth date indicated by Flint himself.

Landru (machine)

Landru

circa 3700 BC
Landru of Beta III preaches peace and coexistence among his people, ending a period of savagery. He creates a powerful computer to guide and protect his people after his death. (TOS: "The Return of the Archons")

In 2267, USS Enterprise discovered a society totally under the control of Landru's machine, 6,000 years after his death.

5,000 years ago[]

circa 2700 BC
Earth is visited by aliens who settle in the region near Greece and the Mediterranean, where they are worshiped by the Greeks as gods. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?")

In 2267, Apollo said they knew Earth well 5,000 of your years ago. This would place the Greek Gods on Earth at the time of the Minoan civilization and the Tiryns culture of Ancient Greece. However, the earliest references to Greek mythology historically date from around 900BC, which would seem to have been well after when Apollo states the Greek gods had left Earth.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia, 4th ed., vol. 1, p. 125 dated this event to around the year 3000 BC.

Sarpeidon experiences an ice age. Zarabeth is later exiled to this time period, and Spock and Leonard McCoy are briefly stranded here as well. (TOS: "All Our Yesterdays")

In 2269, the Atavachron sent Spock and McCoy back in time 5,000 years ago.

By this time, Vulcans are still barbaric, war-like and "nearly killing themselves off with their own passions". (TOS: "All Our Yesterdays")

When Spock went back in time, he began reverting into his ancestors barbarian behavior.

A battle warm-up is developed, that according to legend, "makes the heart a friend to the hand." (DS9: "Rivals")
circa 2500 BC
Vulcans begin to mentally train themselves to suppress their emotions. (VOY: "Random Thoughts")
Humans develop currency. (DS9: "Little Green Men")

4,000 years ago[]

circa 1800 BC
The Xindi-Avians build a concealed fortress on a planet that will one day become the home of the Xindi Council. (ENT: "The Council")
circa 1735 BC
According to Spock, this is when Humans begin to glorify organized violence. (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind")
Humans on Earth begin the tradition of confining law-breakers to prisons. (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind")

3,000 – 2,000 years ago[]

circa 850 BC
The Vulcan monastery on P'Jem is built. (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")

The Star Trek Encyclopedia, 4th ed., vol. 2, p. 119 dated this event to around 800 BCE.

circa 630 BC
The Bajoran prophet Trakor first encounters the Orb of Prophecy and Change, and writes a series of prophecies concerning the Emissary of the Prophets. (DS9: "Destiny")
circa 525 BC
Aeschylus is born in Greece. (DIS: "The Sound of Thunder")

Birth date mentioned in dialogue.

5th to 3rd century BC
Survivors from the Sahndara system supernova arrive on Earth. Their sojourn coincides with the time of the philosophers Socrates and Plato. "After the death of the Greek civilization they idolized" they move on to the planet Platonius. (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")

In 2268, Platonians stated that millennia ago, they managed to escape just before their sun went nova. They transported themselves to Earth during the time of Socrates and Plato {5th century BC}, where their leader liked Plato's ideas. 2,500 years before 2268 {circa 232 BC}, they arrived on a barren rough-hewn planet they called Platonius.

Parmen ("present philosopher king") and Philana were born in the 1st century BC, so they are obviously not from the previous generation that met Plato.

280 BC
The Lighthouse of Alexandria is built under Ptolemy II. (VOY: "11:59")

Constuction date mentioned in dialogue.

120 BC
Hipparchus dies. (VOY: "Future's End")
44 BC
Parmen is born on Platonius. (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")
circa 40s BC
The spherical lifeform records data on Kaminar, indicating that a significant portion of Kelpiens have passed Vahar'ai to reach a more evolved state. (DIS: "The Sound of Thunder")
32 BC
Philana, future wife of Parmen, is born on Platonius. (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")
3 BC
Philana, now 30, stops aging. (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")

Indeterminate[]

In 2268, the USS Enterprise discovered that planet who was only "a few thousand years old".

In 2269, the Megans said they passed through the point between dimensions Millennia ago, and eventually found themselves on Earth.

In 2364, Data said this occurred "several thousand years ago".

Kevin Uxbridge as Douwd

Kevin Uxbridge in his true form

In 2366, Uxbridge said he has lived in this galaxy for thousands of years.

Federation anthropologist reports in 2366 suggested that this happened Millennia ago.

In 2367, Odan indicated that Trill has survived in this fashion for millennia.

Background information[]

Undated Human events

Indicated dates are the most widely accepted.

(1) Those events are referenced in the fourth edition of the Star Trek Encyclopedia (vol. 1, pp.. 109, 143; vol. 2, pp. 103, 171, 395)

c. 15th millennium BC
Indeterminate
3rd millennium BC
2nd millennium BC
1st millennium BC

Indeterminate past (overall)[]

In 2269, Spock stated that they were once at a similar level to Humans, "some tens of thousands of centuries ago… their centuries."

Dawn of time Timeline 1st century

External links[]

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