Epochs

Empires: Dawn of the Modern World includes five different epochs spanning 1,000 years in human history, from the Dark Ages to World War II.

• Dark Ages (950 AD - 1300 AD)
  The Dark Ages were a time of turbulence, barbarism, chivalry, and bereavement. A period that lasted roughly from AD 350 to 1450, the Dark Ages came into existence as the western Roman Empires disjointed into smaller fractions. These weak kingdoms took the shape of such countries as Germany, France, and England.
  
  
• Gunpowder (1300 AD - 1600 AD)
  The Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" was an awakening of literary and cultural movements in the 14th-16th centuries. The Renaissance originally stemmed from the cultural developments in Italy, which led to great artistic, political, and scientific thinking and achievements. The intellectual and economic changes that occurred during this time spread throughout all of Europe, from the ashes of the Dark Ages appeared a time of great economic and intellectual growth.
  
  
• Imperial (1600 AD - 1900 AD)
  The Imperial era played a large part in bringing us to the modern times we live in today. With this new age, bronze and iron cannons were developed and were mass-produced. Nations battled at sea for their claim on new world territories, and magnificent warships were commissioned. With this spring in revolutionized technology, the use of medieval weapons was faded out entirely. Aside from military advances, the scientific revelation was well underway, and scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton created scientific laws, which we still use today.
  
  
• World War I (1914 AD - 1935 AD)
  World War I was the military conflict that began as a European war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia on July 28, 1914, and became a global conflict. Lasting from 1914 to 1918, World War I introduced the world to military use of poison gases, and technological breakthroughs.
  
  
• World War II (1935 AD - 1945 AD)
  World War II began with the German's lightning war (blitzkrieg) on Europe. Civilizations throughout the world took part in this conflict, which ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis at the end of 1945. World War II improved greatly upon the previous weaponry of the First World War. Production of the V-2 Rocket helped to launch the space program, RADAR came into development, helping the RAF purge the skies of German aircraft, and the creation of the Atomic Bomb ended the lives of millions.