Taking place from 290 million to 230 million years ago, the Permian period was the start of a new era for the Earth. Gone was the age of giant arthropods.  Now, Earth had a new ruler-the reptiles.  Despite them somwhat resembling them, none of these reptiles were not dinosaurs, but were instead more closely related to mammals, which would include us.  The continents were now joined into one super-continent called Pangea.  The age of reptiles had finally begun.