High Terran Ages

The High Terran Ages is a period of human history as defined by the Convention on Human Chronology that encompasses the entire 21st century. It is considered to have been preceded by the Cold War period, and is followed by the Solar Century. It is often described as the most peaceful period in human history along with the Solar Century, in contrast to the Low Terran Ages. Though this 111-year long period was not without conflicts, these were limited to civil wars or did not involve multiple powerful nation-states. International clashes often took the shape of commercial, economical and diplomatic warfare.

Throughout the 21st century, scientific progress builds upon the advances made during the Cold War, especially in the fields of space exploration, computer science and medicine.

Though the space race resulted in landmark events such as the first man in space, the first satellite, and the first man on the Moon, humanity will have to wait for a renewal of interest in space exploration in the first few decades of the High Terran Ages to witness considerable progress.

This period includes the construction of the International Space Station, the first permanently-crewed Moon base and the first Martian base and colony.

The High Terran Ages are considered to have ended in 2102, when Inspiration, the main Martian colony, obtained independent representation in the United Nations General Assembly.

Historical Classification Criticism
A common criticism of the widely recognized Chronology of Humanity is the duration of the High Terran Ages. Most critics argue that colonial influence was minimal up until the 23rd century, and as such, the Solar Century should not be a distinct historical period. Others argue that the Cold War period should be divided between the Low and High Terran Ages, with the cutoff point being the launch of Sputnik 1 and the beginning of the Space Race on October 4, 1957.

The Republican Institute of History however argues that it does not classify historical periods based purely on technological progress, but on "paradigm shifts" which signal the beginning of a major change in the way human society as a whole works.

This viewpoint has in turn been challenged for its inability to properly classify historical periods anterior to the globalization of Earth, and has been considered too centered on certain civilizations and geographical places.