Period                                                                                                                                                  Years in length
I. Antediluvian: from the creation to the flood                                                                                       unknown
II. Dispersion: from the flood to the promise                                                                                           435
III. Patriarchs: from the promise to the Exodus                                                                                       420
IV. Wandering: from the exodus to the passage over Jordan                                                                  40
V. Theocracy: from Joshua to Samuel                                                                                                      235
VI. Intermediate: from Samuel to David as King of unified Israel                                                               68
VII. Monarchy: from King David to the Babylonian captivity                                                                      442
VIII. Captivity and restoration: from Judah's conquest to the conclusion of the Old Covenant canon  206
IX. Jewish History: the silent years between the Covenants                                                                    400
X. Early Church: from the birth of the Church to the end of the New Covenant's canon                          100

Characteristic - Intellectual: scientific and philosophical advances

Prophecy: Genesis 9:27 HCSB  God will extend Japheth; he will dwell in the tents of Shem; Canaan will be his slave.

Principle countries peopled by them:  
Asia Minor, Armenia, Caucasus, Europe

Sons           Principle nations descending from them 
Gomer -      (Germany, Crimea, Cambria, Celts)
     Ashkenaz (Germany, Saxons, Scandinavia) 
     Ripath (Carpathians)
     Togarmah (Armenians) 
Magog -      Georgia, Scythians
Madai -        Medes, Aryans, Indians of India
Javan -         Ionians and Athenians (Genesis 10:4-5)
     Elishah (Hellas)
     Tarshish (Spain)
     Kittim (Cyprus)
     Dodanim (Rhodes)
Tubal -         (Tobolsk) Iberians and Albanians
Meshech -   Moscow, Muscovites
Tiras -          Thracians, Teutons, or the people of the Hellespont, now called the Dardanelles.

Characteristic - Physical: great artisans and builders

Prophecy- Genesis 9:25 HCSB  he said: Canaan will be cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.

Principle countries peopled by them: 
Arabia, Egypt, North Coast of Africa

Prophecy: Genesis 9:25 HCSB  he said: Canaan will be cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.

Sons           Principle nations descending from them 
Cush -         Ethiopians or Abyssinians (Genesis 10:7-12)
     Seba (Meroe)
     Havilah (Arabia)
     Sabatah (Sabeans)
     Raamah (Arabia) 
        Sheba
        Dedan
     Sabtecha
     Nimrod (Babylon, Ninevah)
Mizraim -     Egyptians (Genesis 10:13-14)
     Ludim
     Anamim
     Lehabim
     Naphtuhim
     Pathrusim (Pathros)
     Casluhim (Philistines)
     Caphtorum (Crete)
Put / Phut -   Libyans (Ezekiel 27:10; 30:5; Nahum 3:9)
Canaan -     Canaanites (Genesis 10:15-19)
     Sidon
     Heth (Hittites, Cathay)
     Jebusites
     Amorites
     Girgashites
     Hivites
     Arkites (Phoenicians)
     Sinites (Sino, China)
     Arvadites
     Zemarites, Hamathites

Characteristic - Spiritual: Founding great religions

Prophecy - Genesis 9:26 HCSB  He also said: Praise the LORD, the God of Shem; Canaan will be his slave.

Principle countries peopled by them:
Assyria, Syria, Persia, Arabia N., Mesopotamia

Sons              Principle nations descending from them
Elam -             Elamites or Persians (Genesis 10:22)
Asshur -         Assyrians
Arpachshad -  Chaldeans (Genesis 10:24)
     Salah
        Eber (Hebrews)
          Peleg
            Reu
              Serug
                Nahor
                 Terah
                   Abram
                     Ishmael (Arabs)
                     Isaac 
                       Esau (Edom)
                       Jacob (Israel) 
                          The twelve tribes of Israel
Lud -               Lydians (Isaiah 66:19; Ezekiel 27:10; 30:5)
Aram -             Syrians, Armenians (Genesis 10:22-23; Numbers 23:7; Deuteronomy 23:4; Judges 3:8; 2 Samuel 8:6)
     Uz (Job? c. 2800 BC)
     Hui
     Gether
     Mash