Final answer:
The six periods of the Paleozoic Era include the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian, each characterized by significant evolutionary events, from the Cambrian explosion of new life forms to the Permian mass extinction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Paleozoic Era is an important geological time span that marked significant changes in Earth's biology, beginning with the Cambrian explosion and culminating in the Permian extinction. The six periods that existed during the Paleozoic Era are:
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- Cambrian
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- Ordovician
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- Silurian
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- Devonian
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- Carboniferous
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- Permian
These periods were characterized by major evolutionary advancements. During the Cambrian Period, there was an explosion of new forms of life, including many primitive animals like sponges and a significant variety of trilobites. Following this, the Ordovician Period is noted for the colonization of land by the ancestors of modern land plants, marking a vital step in the history of life on Earth. The Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous periods saw further diversification of life, with significant developments such as the move of plants, amphibians, and reptiles onto land. Finally, the Permian Period ended with the largest mass extinction event witnessed at the time, setting the stage for the rise of the dinosaurs in the subsequent Mesozoic Era.