epoch
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epoch / era
A longer period of time in history, art, or culture characterized by particular features.
Die Renaissance war eine Epoche großer künstlerischer und wissenschaftlicher Entdeckungen.
The Renaissance was an era of great artistic and scientific discoveries.
epoch
In geology, a subdivision of a period in Earth's history.
Wir leben heute in der Epoche des Holozäns.
Today we live in the Holocene epoch.
The word 'Epoche' (epoch/era) belongs to elevated written language and is often used in historical, scientific, or cultural texts. It is rather rare in everyday conversation.
Die Erfindung des Buchdrucks markierte den Beginn einer neuen Epoche.
The invention of the printing press marked the beginning of a new era.
'Epoche' (epoch/era) is very often used with a genitive or the preposition 'von' (of) to describe what kind of period it is. The structure is then 'die Epoche des/der ...' (the era of ...).
Das war die Epoche des Kalten Krieges.
That was the era of the Cold War.
Common expressions in a historical or cultural context are 'eine Epoche prägen' (to shape an era) or 'eine neue Epoche einläuten/beginnen' (to usher in/begin a new era).
Die Entdeckungen von Albert Einstein prägten eine ganze Epoche der Physik.
Albert Einstein's discoveries shaped an entire era of physics.
You can tell from the context whether the geological or historical meaning is meant. Terms like 'Erdgeschichte' (Earth's history), 'Holozän' (Holocene), or 'Pleistozän' (Pleistocene) clearly point to geology.
Das Pleistozän ist eine Epoche der Erdgeschichte, die für ihre Eiszeiten bekannt ist.
The Pleistocene is an epoch of Earth's history known for its ice ages.
age
Alter and Epoche can both refer to a historical period. Alter focuses more on the overall characteristic state of a period. Epoche is especially suitable when history, art, or culture is divided into defined periods characterized by particular features.
Das Museum zeigt die Epoche der Stadt zwischen 1700 und 1800.
The museum presents the city's period from 1700 to 1800.
Das goldene Alter der Stadt war durch Handel und großen Wohlstand geprägt.
The city's golden age was characterized by trade and great prosperity.
