Summary

• The official Star Wars canon has expanded rapidly, with nine eras spanning the galaxy's 25,000-year history and offering different versions of the Star Wars universe.
• The eras of the Star Wars canon timeline differ from the Legends continuity, ensuring substantial differences between each universe.
• Each era in the Star Wars canon offers unique stories and events, from the origin of the Jedi Order to the fall of the Empire and the rise of a new generation of Jedi.

The official Star Wars canon has expanded rapidly in the past 10 years, encoming several eras that shape new stories. Each era offers a different version of the Star Wars galaxy yet seamlessly continues into the next to create a thrilling and highly engaging universe. From the beginning of galactic civilization to the most recent movies, the Star Wars timeline has a rich history that will continue to grow.

It will also be fascinating to see how the eras of the canon timeline are different from the Legends continuity. Some eras of the Legends timeline carried over into canon, but details from the Star Wars movies and TV shows guarantee substantial differences between each universe. The Star Wars canon is divided into nine eras that catalog the galaxy's 25,000-year history.

9 Dawn Of The Jedi

The Beginning Of The Jedi Order

The Dawn of the Jedi era will be the focus of James Mangold's Star Wars movie, exploring the origin of the Jedi Order. This era begins 25,000 years before A New Hope and deals with the Prime Jedi establishing the first Jedi Temple on Ahch-To, though the Jedi quickly spread to other worlds. With the founding of the first Galactic Republic not long after, the Jedi become the guardians of peace and justice.

8 The Old Republic

The Time Of The First Galactic Republic

The Old Republic had a thriving timeline in Legends but has been largely untouched in canon. This is the era where the Jedi Order and the Republic have spread throughout the galaxy, but a Jedi schism leads to the creation of the Sith Order. After thousands of years waging war against the Republic, the Sith are defeated and presumed extinct 1,000 years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

7 The High Republic

The Height Of The Jedi Order And The Republic

With the fall of the Sith and the formation of the modern Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order reaches its golden age during the High Republic era. Beginning 500 years before The Phantom Menace, the Jedi are a beacon of hope throughout the galaxy as the Republic enters another great age of expansion. However, this era is rife with threats to the galaxy, especially an army of vicious marauders called the Nihil.

6 Fall Of The Jedi

The Era Of The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy

The Jedi and the Republic peak during the High Republic era but fall into corruption and stagnation by the time of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, uses these problems to manipulate the galaxy into a state of war. The Clone Wars rage for many years, ending with the Jedi purge and the rise of the Empire. Though the galaxy has fallen into darkness, a new hope will one day emerge.

5 Age Of The Empire

The Dark Times Between Star Wars Episodes III & IV

The reign of the Empire becomes known as the "Dark Times," as the galaxy is ruled through fear while the Jedi are all but extinct. This is an era of oppression but also of opportunity for criminals, outlaws, and those willing to fight back. The Empire spreads its influence across the galaxy, but all the while, the seeds of rebellion are planted and begin to grow.

4 Age Of Rebellion

The Era Of The Star Wars Original Trilogy

The first signs of rebellion are small and scattered but quickly grow into a Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker is set on his Jedi path, and after destroying the Death Star, he becomes the galaxy's new hope. The Galactic Civil War rages for several years until the Emperor is defeated at the Battle of Endor, and the galaxy celebrates its newfound freedom. Now, the former rebels must adjust to peacetime and restore the ideals of the Republic.

3 The New Republic

The Return Of The Republic And The Start Of Luke's Jedi Order

The New Republic is founded, the Empire is defeated, and the remaining Imperial warlords are forced into hiding. This is an era of hope but also uncertainty, as the New Republic is stretched thin in its efforts to maintain peace and justice. Luke begins the long and challenging process of rebuilding the Jedi Order, constructing a temple on Ossus, and traveling the galaxy for information on the Jedi of old. While Luke and the New Republic are focused on rebuilding, a darkness is growing in the galaxy, waiting to take over the galaxy once again.

2 Age Of Resistance

The Era Of The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

The Imperial Remnant eventually evolves into the First Order, and Luke's Jedi Temple is destroyed when Ben Solo turns to the dark side. With the New Republic unwilling to take action and Luke missing, Leia leads a brave Resistance, which becomes the galaxy's only hope when the First Order destroys the New Republic capital of Hosnian Prime and launches their invasion of the galaxy. Worst of all, Palpatine is revealed to be alive and the true mastermind behind the First Order, but in a twist of fate, his granddaughter embraces the Jedi path and helps the Resistance restore freedom to the galaxy.

1 New Jedi Order

Rey Leads The Next Generation Of Jedi

Rey now faces the impossible task of leading the Jedi in the Star Wars New Jedi Order movie. This era is set 15 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and will explore how the Jedi evolve as the galaxy moves into a new age. With Rey learning from the sacred Jedi texts, perhaps her New Jedi Order will learn from the original, bringing the Star Wars timeline full circle.