2. Gondwana
• Late Paleozoic continent that formed the
southern portion of Pangea, consisting of all
or parts of present- day South America, Africa,
Australia, India, and Antarctica
3. Laurasia
• The continental mass that formed the
northern portion of Pangea, consisting of
present-day North America and Eurasia.
4. Key Concept
• Following the long Precambrian, the most
recent 540 million years of Earth’s history are
divided into three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic,
and Cenozoic
5. Key Concept
• During the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian
periods, the vast southern continent of
Gondwana encompassed five of today’s
continents ( South America, Africa, Australia,
Antarctica, and parts of Asia)