Historic times can be referred to as ERAS, AGES, and pasts. An era is a period of time that is defined by certain characteristics or events, such as the Renaissance or the Industrial Revolution. AGES are longer periods of time, usually associated with a particular culture or civilization, such as the Bronze Age or the Iron Age. Pasts refer to the collective memories of a people or culture, which can include both physical artifacts and oral histories. All of these terms can be used to refer to historic times.