Historians have grouped epochs of human technological advancement into various "Technology Ages" (characterized by the predominant types of tools and weapons used by humans) including the following (some of these are debatable but most are universally accepted and cited, I'm just listing these here for reference to frame my Question):

Question Are we still in the Information Age? Or with robotics, data analytics, machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, artificial intelligence, drones and autonomous vehicles, are we turning the corner into a new Automation Age as this Harvard Business Review Article and this Futurism Article suggest?

If not a new Automation Age, are we perhaps in some other Age now? Obviously Ages can overlap as has been the case with some of the above listed "Ages" - so we could very well still be in the Information Age, or a second Space Age with commercialization of Space starting to take off (pun intended) as well as a new Automation Age all at the same time.

I'm looking for some "official" "Age-Keeper" decree or announcement (who gets to identify and name all the "Ages" by the way?) but I haven't found anything I would consider authoritative yet on the subject of what Age we may now be in. By authoritative I mean some article in a recognized peer-reviewed journal, or a doctoral thesis. Is this something we may only learn in hindsight?

Further Research
Additional research on this topic has uncovered the following articles all referencing the current Age of Automation:

While none of these may be scientific journals (though the last one may at least have the notoriety of being a semi or pseudo official organization?) they all separately refer to the current Age of Automation, in addition to the previously cited HBR and Futurism articles. While lacking accreditation, does this growing body of work start to form some sort of industry consensus regarding a current Age of Automation?

Previous Unrelated Question on Modern / Late Modern / Post Modern terminology refers to cultural periods, not technological ages (nor to geological ages for that matter). The answer to the Modern / Late Modern / Post-Modern question in no way answers this question.

closed as off-topic by Pieter Geerkens, sds, José Carlos Santos, Jos, Bregalad Sep 7 '18 at 6:09




The very concept of "Age of" is flawed. If one hears phrases like stone age or dark ages, which are almost about the only two ages an historian would use seriously, you have instantly negative connotations about the timeframe to discuss.

That is not to say that "ages" are not a well established, popular and even classic concept:

The Ages of Man are the stages of human existence on the Earth according to Greek mythology and its subsequent Roman interpretation.

Very much like in Hesiod's ages of man:

  • Golden Age – The Golden Age is the only age that falls within the rule of Cronus. Created by the immortals who live on Olympus, these humans were said to live among the gods, and freely mingled with them. Peace and harmony prevailed during this age. Humans did not have to work to feed themselves, for the earth provided food in abundance. They lived to a very old age but with a youthful appearance and eventually died peacefully. Their spirits live on as "guardians". Plato in Cratylus (397e) recounts the golden race of men who came first. He clarifies that Hesiod did not mean men literally made of gold, but good and noble. He describes these men as daemons upon the earth. Since δαίμονες (daimones) is derived from δαήμονες (daēmones, meaning knowing or wise), they are beneficent, preventing ills, and guardians of mortals.
  • Silver Age – The Silver Age and every age that follows fall within the rule of Cronus's successor and son, Zeus. Men in the Silver age lived for one hundred years under the dominion of their mothers. They lived only a short time as grown adults, and spent that time in strife with one another. During this Age men refused to worship the gods and Zeus destroyed them for their impiety. After death, humans of this age became "blessed spirits" of the underworld.
  • Bronze Age – Men of the Bronze Age were hardened and tough, as war was their purpose and passion. Zeus created these humans out of the ash tree. Their armor was forged of bronze, as were their homes, and tools. The men of this Age were undone by their own violent ways and left no named spirits; instead, they dwell in the "dank house of Hades". This Age came to an end with the flood of Deucalion.
  • Heroic Age – The Heroic Age is the one age that does not correspond with any metal. It is also the only age that improves upon the age it follows. It was the heroes of this Age who fought at Thebes and Troy. This race of humans died and went to Elysium.
  • Iron Age – Hesiod finds himself in the Iron Age. During this age humans live an existence of toil and misery. Children dishonor their parents, brother fights with brother and the social contract between guest and host (xenia) is forgotten. During this age might makes right, and bad men use lies to be thought good. At the height of this age, humans no longer feel shame or indignation at wrongdoing; babies will be born with gray hair and the gods will have completely forsaken humanity: "there will be no help against evil."

But that does not make it useful for historical discussion. Not because of mythological content. But because it is Hesiod's attempt to construct a useable past, or as we would call it: writing history. In our contemporary understanding we cannot use the same terms to describe the same periods of time. But the theme of nostalgic past and decay for the present and future very well resonates today. But that makes it more about a certain world view, philosophy or just politics. From Hesiod's description, we for sure still live in a heroic age, and are discontent with it.

In contemporary – owing to the nature of the question I hesitate t call it modern – historiography, we need a different approach, if we want to keep is on a level of scientific investigation.

That is called periodization:

Periodization is the process or study of categorizing the past into discrete, quantified named blocks of time2 in order to facilitate the study and analysis of history. This results in descriptive abstractions that provide convenient terms for periods of time with relatively stable characteristics. However, determining the precise beginning and ending to any "period" is often arbitrary. It has changed over time in history.


That gives the problem of arbitrariness: Does it make sense to speak of medieval China? Does it make sense to apply concepts fitting very well into Western/European history to Africa? Sometimes it does. Most times it doesn't.

To really come to terms on a general level with the question, we might need to grab some inspiration from art history. There, certain styles are useful for periodization. This is proto-geometric pottery, this is gothic architecture, and this is impressionist painting style. When were these styles named as such? Seldom, when they were "in". At the earliest when they were on the way out. Therefore: it is only then a style if you do not have it any more.

See for example this currently unresolved HistorySE question: What did they call Gothic and Baroque architecture before the modern terms came into use?. The 'style' originated in the 'high middle ages' in France and we now quite clearly recognise churches and other buildings from that time as gothic. They apparently didn't see it that way:

WP: Gothic architecture

In other words: when a period, or age if you will, starts, ends or what it defines, cannot be seen by us.

The "hellenistic period":


and yet:



This is the job of future historians. And they will argue about it with the most joyous and bitter disagreements.

We might still define 'an age' for us and to us, believing to be living in it. That this classification will survive even the next generation is highly unlikely.

  • 1
    Thank you very much LangLangC - your answer including a discussion of Periods is detailed helpful. However I'm hoping you can clarify how this can be synthesized into an examination or comparison of Technological Ages (Stone, Bronze, Iron, etc) which are categorized primarily by the predominant types or styles of tools and / or weapons used by humans of each of the indicated "ages." But that aside, you have offered insightful information that gives me much to think about. – Kerry L Sep 6 '18 at 22:54

As I say elsewhere:

many interrelated issues seems critical now, but we will know which were truly important only when this period ends

First, Atomic, Jet and Space "ages" are continuing now simultaneously - we use nuclear energy and weapons (as deterrent), fly in jets and actively use (near) space. IOW, they are not mutually exclusive, but describe different prominent technologies.

Similarly, the The Industrial Age was originally called the Age of Steam and then renamed the Age of Electricity, but, in retrospect, the Industrial Age seems a better choice.

Second, the current period seems to be called the "Post-industrial" age.

The Information age is merely an aspect of the Post-industrial society. The moniker might be superseded by an "age of AI" in a few years - or it might not.

  • This answer is not a duplicate of any of the five answers (including yours) of the Modern / Late Modern / Post Modern question... if this question on technology age is a duplicate of the Modern / Late Modern / Post Modern question, how can you posit an answer here that in no way is related to the answer you offered on the other question? – Kerry L Sep 6 '18 at 17:57

The Anthropocene is a proposed designation of our current epoch characterised by significant human impact upon the earths geology and ecology; it includes but is not limited to anthropogenic climate change.

The term has not yet been officially recognised by the International Union of the Geological Sciences and nor by the International Commission on Stratigraphy though it appears to be going through a process of ratification with the term presented as a recommendation to the International Geological Congress in August 2016 to be incorporated officially as part of the Geological Time Scale.

Scientists in the Soviet Union in 1960s used the term to refer to the Quaternary, the most recent geological period. It was then picked up by the Ecoloogist Eugene Stoermer in the 80s and then widely popularised by the atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen in the 2000s.

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    Thank you Mozibar Ullah for taking the time to answer the question with an interesting response about our current epoch. However I am not asking with regards to geological ages (nor cultural / artistic ages), but specifically technology (tools / weapons) ages. – Kerry L Sep 6 '18 at 22:57
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    @KerryL: Ok. But note it's the overall technology that people have at their disposal that designates the Anthropocene. They're not being specific about the actual technologies. But I take your point. Hopefully you will get a more appropriate response. – Mozibur Ullah Sep 6 '18 at 23:00
