While I think at least half of what I'll mention here would fit better in my planned modmod (which for both RL and C2C reasons I imagine I won't start developing until much, much later in C2C's development), I have recently found it useful to sketch out a "maximal" interpretation and trim if desired from there.
The way I see it, the timeline should go something like this:
Paleolithic Era
Lower Paleolithic-3,300,000 BC-Earliest known appearance of Australopithecus, the first habitually bipedal hominid.
Middle Paleolithic-200,000 BC-Earliest non-disputed appearance of anatomically modern humans (
Homo sapiens sapiens).
Upper Paleolithic-50,000 BC- Earliest mainstream date for
human behavioural modernity, excluding models that see there as being no such sudden step forward. I should note that I presently consider this an ideal starting date for both C2C and my modmod; the previous eras are listed largely just for considerations sake. The very late part of this subera would be where I would place a hypothetical Stonepunk alt-timeline project.
I feel I should note that I didn't include the Mesolithic (which I saw in a similar way to the developments of the early Neolithic, which I discuss below) nor the Epipaleolthic, due to them lacking distinctive characteristics from these eras and overlapping with them (and, in the formers case, starting 10,000 years prior in one region (the Near East) to Europe, though I will grant you could accuse me of hypocrisy on this specific point, on the grounds that I favour a model where the leading historical region determines the date, and indeed place the Near East ahead of Europe throughout what my version of the Ancient Era.)
Neolithic Era (replaces what is now called Ancient-10,000 BC-End of Last Glacial Maximum (Ice Age), development of agriculture and sedentism.
While perhaps this choice of date is too early (if aesthetically and evocatively appealing), I think 6000 BC may be too late. When I envision the Neolithic, I envision the transition from egalitarian hunter-gatherer bands to comparatively stratified tribal chiefdoms. Gameplay wise, I envision it being more or less like what Prehistoric is now, with permanent settlements and a focus shifting (though never entirely) from raw survival to development, be it in the form of technologies or culture.
Eventually, these societies become closer to oligarchic and/or patriarchal townships, first ruled by fathers of the household, then by patriarchs of the families, then finally by priest-kings, who then go on to become the monarchs (and in some cases, divinities) of the future eras. There'd be a similar (and possibly related) transition from stone to copper weaponry during the latter part of this era as well, overlapping with what Empire Earth called the Copper Age (though the Chalcolithic proper may be narrower than that period, despite what EE's choice of name might indicate), as well as a good portion of vanilla Civ's Ancient Era.
So I guess you could say I see this era as a hybrid between the second half or last third of what is now the Prehistoric Era and the entirety of what is now the Ancient Era.
The Ancient Era in C2C (and, to be fair, this is something at least in part inherited from RoM, AND and Civ itself) is very poorly defined, which I suspect is the reason so many here are essentially portraying it as a synonym or near-synonym for the Neolithic; Monarchy and the Ancient Egyptian religion(s) are certainly not near-contemporaries of what historians call "Classical Antiquity".
As such, I propose the creation of a new era or subera (of Classical, though I can see a third option where this era has some new techs with its latter part overlapping with Classical, possibly an expanded Classical), detailed below:
Ancient Era
Early Bronze Age-3000 BC-Invention of writing (beginning of what survives of recorded history), widespread usage of bronze metallurgy. I personally consider most of non-Minoan Europe to be behind the Ancient Near East at this time, somewhere in the first half of the Neolithic, hence Stonehenge.
Middle Bronze Age-2000 BC-While I cannot find a precise cultural or technological breakthrough delineating this era from its predecessor, I do know that this is the time of Abraham and his descendants, as well as the once-thought-legendary Xia Dynasty in China, and, of course, of Middle Kingdom Egypt. The Ancient Near East would also see the rise of the first Assyrian Empire and the Babylonian civilization, the capital of which would become the largest city in the world towards the middle of this period.
Late Bronze Age-1500 BC-Like its immediate predecessor, a precise event or series of events for the beginning of this period is not something I've found. Nonetheless, this era was certainly not free of interesting times; the Mycenean civilization in Greece, the Olmec in what is now Mexico, the Vedic period in India, the Shang dynasty in China and, of course, part of the New Kingdom in Egypt.
Iron Age-1200 BC-This subera, the final of the Ancient Era, marks not only the widespread development (in the Ancient Near East) of the aforementioned (and game-breaking in both real and game terms) metallurgy, but the Bronze Age Collapse, including and perhaps precipitated at least in part by the fall of Troy. I personally consider this time to be the setting of most Greek myths (that is, the intended date for the stories themselves, not when they were first conceived of or recorded), but that's an aside.
Classical Era
Archaic Period-800 BC-First, a note is in order. I identify the Classical era with
Classical antiquity, not what is presently designated Classical in Civ or C2C. While I doubt such a development will take place anytime soon in C2C, I think this necessitates a very radical shift in the tech tree, one that would greatly expand this era and possibly (as aforementioned) create an entirely new Ancient Era between the renamed Ancient (Neolithic) and the Medieval era.
In any event, I would identify Classical antiquity as beginning with the rise of the Greek polis', the First Olympiad, Homer and the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus. This is admittedly Eurocentric (as is much of this era itself), but I see this as no more problematic for C2C than having the Ancient Near East define the Ancient Era- effectively, I see the most advanced region of the world as defining the timespan each era should cover.
Classical Period-500 BC-We return from almost 1000 years of a so called "dark age", with a bright rebirth of civilization. This period, among the briefest of premodern suberas, nevertheless contains almost every famous Greek figure under the sun, and is kicked off with the overthrowing of the last Athenian tyrant and, elsewhere, the last of the Roman kings, ushering in an era where the first known governments that history, C2C and its ancestor mods would call republics. Another major event that kicked off this era was the ultimately-thwarted invasion of Greece by the Achaemenid dynasty of Persia, which saw an unexpected alliance between the antagonistic city states/hegemonic empires of Athens and militaristic, monarcho-theocratic-oligarchic Sparta. Naturally, this golden age would be a good place for Sandalpunk, although I can see a good argument for it fitting better around the mid to late 2nd century AD.
Hellenistic Period-300 BC-The death of Macedonian prince turned emperor Megas Alexandros, one of the greatest conquerors has ever seen and the first known European emperor, marked the end of Greece's golden age, and the beginning of this era.
Imperial Age-50 BC-Assassination of Julius Caesar, fall of the Roman Republic.
Late Antiquity-200 AD-
Crisis of the Third Century.
Medieval Era
This one is much easier than the previous two, as there are established historiological conventions for its division. Nevertheless, I will identify events that I would see as key to beginning and ending each era.
Early Middle Ages-500 AD-Death of the last true Western Roman Emperor, closure of the Neoplatonic, revived Academy by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I.
High Middle Ages-1000 AD-Viking proto-settlement of the New World, Norman conquest of Britain. It's worth noting that most "classic" 20th century fantasy is set in this period or one with an equivalent technological level, although the Martinesque intrigue and societal and technological change of the Late Middle Ages may have resulted in somewhat of a shift (see for example, Shrek (especially its sequels) and the Warcraft universe) since the "golden age" of the 1980s for fantasy, one no doubt in part precipitated by general artistic trends towards deconstruction. Note that the tendency to set fantasy in this period has historical precedent; even during the modernistic times that followed the Middle Ages, many saw this period as a golden age of chivalry and Christendom, especially in comparison to the so called "Dark Ages".
Late Middle Ages-1300 AD-This subera is by far the most difficult to pinpoint the beginning and end of; for the former, I would tentatively (and recently, as far as my thinking goes) nominate the Black Death, political centralization, and the widespread usage of cannon- the last item is perhaps the most significant, given the impact it had upon the castle paradigm that had dominated European warfare for almost a thousand years (especially given what I've heard of Late Antiquity). Speaking of popular culture, some of Shakespeare's plays are set in this period, which was a fairly recent memory at the time for his audience (especially when one considers how differently people looked at time and history back then).
Early Modern Era
Leaving aside the issue of when to start and end this era for a moment, I think this name is far more fitting. The Renaissance is not only a specific period in European history that arguably began centuries earlier in Italy than anywhere else, but also did not last for the entirety of this period (even given the most generously early dates for Industrial) and was primarily cultural, artistic and political, rather than technological. The aspects of it that weren't (exploration, "wooden ships and iron men", gunpowder) also extend beyond it, and in the case of gunpowder have less advanced forms in the past, not only in China and Korea, but even in Europe, and in ways that are clearly not outliers (see my notes for the Late Middle Ages above).
Renaissance-1500 AD-Widespread adoption of hand-held gunpowder weaponry, invention of the printing press, the Reformation, the spread of the Renaissance beyond Italy (and its further development within it), the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, creation of liberalism and rise of political centralism (although aspects of the former can be seen in various Christian heresies, especially European ones in general and European ones of the Late Middle Ages in particular, and the latter had begun at the dawn of the Late Middle Ages at the latest), and, of course, the discovery and colonization of the New World. This is where Clockpunk should be.
Age of Sail/Age of Discovery (name tentative)-1600 AD-While both of these ages extend well beyond the period covered by this era, it's the closest name I can think of. This is the part of the Early Modern Era in which the principle and primary issues were exploration, colonization and discovery. Such things were found in other suberas, even those outside of the Early Modern Era, but in no other were they the sole or predominating concern (for Europe, at least), although at the same time one should not downplay the advancements in science that took place in this period (built as they were upon the achievements of both Catholic and Muslim luminaries).
Enlightenment-1700 AD-While the previous era saw many advances in science, this one would see new forms of philosophy take root in Europe. Like these advances, much of the philosophical ideas that would become popular in this period would have their precedent in liberalism and its predecessors, and indeed, in philosophy as far back as its genesis in the pre-Socratics, but like the previous subera, philosophy and the
philosophes would become the predominating European concern.
Industrial Era
Early Industrial Period-1800 AD-Both French Revolutions, the first Age of Revolutions in general, and the Napoleonic Wars would come to define this period, as well as the beginnings of widespread industrialization. The Napoleonic Wars in particular would extend their legacy for a century, well beyond merely this period.
High Industrial Period-1850 AD-Rise of Queen Victoria, including the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations. Rifles become widely used in warfare in both Europe and the Americas. Steampunk would fall here.
Late Industrial Period-1900 AD-The death of Queen Victoria occurs a mere 4 days into the century, bringing both the zenith of European colonialism and the greatest advancements in industrial technology the world has ever seen to a close.
Age of Diesel-1925 AD-The Roaring Twenties, short lived as they were, kick off this era, which is overshadowed by the legacy of the War to End All Wars. This subera, the final of the Industrial Era is, as one might expect, the time of Dieselpunk.
Atomic Era-1950 AD-I would see this era as replacing all but the last 10-20% of the Modern Era we have now. Event wise, the end of the greatest war the world has ever seen, the culmination of the Manhattan Project raising the stakes of warfare to heights undreamt of, the breakup of US-USSR relations creating a new form of cold warfare and the foundation of the United Nations would mark the start of this era. Atompunk would also be here, of course.
Information Era-1990 AD-I debated where to start this, not only because it overlaps with both the Modern Era and Transhuman era as they stand, but because of the core defining element of this era is that of widespread usage of computers, a trend overlapping with the previous era in military terms, the late 1970s onward in business terms, and sometime in the 1990s onwards in domestic terms. Needless to say, the end of the Cold War would also come to define this period, foreshadowing the rise of asymmetrical warfare (though like many developments, this was far from without precedent). Obviously, this would encompass the last 10-20% and first 10-30% of the Transhuman era (though maybe shorter, it has gotten really long lately). Biopunk would fit here, sometime in the mid to late 90s.
Transhuman Era
Singularity Era-2030 AD-While I am personally skeptical of both the predicted time and claims of singularitarianism/transhumanism, partly because of my historical pessimism and partly because of their attachment to scientistic, physicalist and utilitarian dogmas (among them being that it is in principle possible to creata a material intellect, be it in the form of uploading people's consciousness to computer networks or creating artificial intelligences), this nevertheless seems a decent spot to mark the end of the current era, and will no doubt be an interesting time in many ways. I think this would be a good time for Cyberpunk, though you can probably argue it could be as early as the 80s.
22nd Century-2100 AD-Naturally, as we head deeper into the future things get more speculative. I'm of the opinion that Minority Report is (minus the central, plot necessary technology itself) the most accurate prediction of 2030, the quite underrated I, Robot film the most accurate prediction of 2050 (again, ironically excepting the plot-necessary conceit of material intellects) and Bladerunner that of 2100 (natch). And while we're on the subject of media, I think Mass Effect is right in thinking there will be no moon bases prior to around 2070 or so, and no bases on Mars until around 2100.
In any event, this era will probably be primarily distinguished by increased exploration and colonization of the solar system, although I think it will be many centuries before mankind ever leaves the solar system itself, barring nationalistic or other political factors which I think will be mostly irrelevant by this time.
Space Era-2200 AD-This is my preferred term for what is now called the Galactic Era, given I think it will take a hundred thousand years for humanity to rise to that level. 3000 AD is my present choice of end date, but that is partly motivated by a desire to keep the pace consistent with that established in the previous eras and suberas, though I will grant that a slowing of pace may actually be realistic considering that the distance between planets and stars and the sheer scope and size of civilizations would be many orders of magnitude beyond that of any prior point in human history.
For another fictional barometer, I would choose the Mass Effect series as the technological level for this eras beginning, and either the very underrated game Freelancer or the Orion's Arm collaborative fiction project (which C2C apparently used to draw from) for its end, again (irony and repetition plus deja vu being the order of the future) minus the magical nanotechnology and AI gods.
One last thing I should note, one important not only to the future in general but to the entire timeline of human history both in real life and that of Civ, is the differing rates of advancement in humanity. I think there is going to be a very, very wide gap between technological development and "colonize everything" development, one of many orders of magnitude. It is entirely possible humanity may reach a technological ceiling, not unlike that which some speculate has been present in the Star Wars Legends continuity, where the only thing left to do is colonize and explore (that, and sufficiently large projects that make the Ring and the Death Star look like ants by comparison.).
I also think I should note where I'd place the various religions (though with the caveat that I think the pagan religions (which is to say, all polytheistic religions plus the monotheistic Ngaiism and Tengriism, with the exception of Mahayana Buddhism (sects not yet being implemented in game), Voodoo (which is quasi-polytheistic) and Zoroastrianism (assuming Angra Mainyu is considered a deity in some way, whether or not he is equal to Ahura Mazda).) should be replaced with a Sevo's Faces of God/Civilization V: Gods and Kings/Crusader Kings II-esque mechanic allowing organic construction of pagan religious traditions (and, seperately have Judaism, Christianity, Canaanism, Mesopotamism and Naghualism eventually be founded in a different manner entirely.);
Another reason i've skipped most pagan religinos here is that virtually all of them have antecedents going back many centuries, if not millenia. Now, you can argue some of the religions I've listed here do as well, but their actual formation as movements with continuity have specific historical dates, which most pagan religions don't.
- Middle Neolithic to beginning of Early Bronze Age-Canaanism and Mesopotamism (you can definitely make an argument these should be subsumed under the system I described earlier, though)
- Late (possibly very late) Neolithic to Early Middle Ages-Naghualism (See above. I should note I tend to "date" non-European/Ancient Near Eastern religions by where the "founder" was in the tech tree, not the date proper.)
- Beginning of the Middle Bronze Age to early Iron Age-Judaism (Abraham vs the Kingdom of Israel, basically, though you could make an argument Noah followed a prototypical form of this religion, and a partly Biblical, partly anthropological argument for this being the very first religion.)
- Late Archaic Period to Early Classical Period-Buddhism
- Early to middle Classical Period-Zoroastrianism (Leaving aside debates over the dating of Zoroaster, I think a case can be made this religion is a highly unusual development along the "tech tree" of religion in the model for pagan religions proposed above, and thus may fit better there.)
- Early Imperial Age-Christianity (Even leaving aside questions of historical accuracy (and for that matter, whether you consider Christianity to have begun with Christ or John the Baptist), it simply makes no sense for the Romans and others to have feared and persecuted a religion that wasn't even founded yet.)
- Early Medieval Era? to Age of Sail?-Voodoo (Going back any further puts it firmly into pagan syncretist territory, and its very arguable even leaving that aside. As mentioned, I tend to, as far as non-European/Ancient Near Eastern religions are concerned, take it at the tech level the "founder" was at rather than the date, but Voodoo is arguably a special case given it is basically a syncretist religion based on Western African animism (which gets even more complicated when you consider that West Africa didn't even have humans in it until around 2000 BC, and the people who colonized it may have been anywhere from Middle Paleolithic to Middle Bronze Age in tech (though Africa invented iron without bronze, though it may have been influenced by other parts of the world) mixed with (Age of Sail era) Roman Catholicism.
I can see a much stronger argument for putting this under another system than for Zoroastrianism, and somewhat stronger than the one for Canaanism and Mesopotamism.)