50000 BCE
Prothean Extinction
The Reapers harvest the Prothean civilization, leaving behind ruins and technology like the Mass Relays. #MassEffect #lore
Chronological Storyline (45 Milestones)
48000 BCE
Prothean Beacon on Eden Prime
A Prothean beacon is placed on Eden Prime, later discovered by humans. #MassEffect #lore
1900 BCE
Asari Civilization Discovers Prothean Ruins
The asari discover Prothean ruins on Thessia, accelerating their technological development. #MassEffect #lore
1800 BCE
Salarians Achieve Spaceflight
The salarians develop spaceflight and encounter the asari, leading to the formation of the Citadel Council. #MassEffect #lore
1700 BCE
Citadel Council Founded
The asari, salarians, and later turians form the Citadel Council to govern galactic affairs. #MassEffect #lore
1500 BCE
Krogan Rebellions Begin
The krogan, uplifted by the salarians, rebel against the Council, leading to the Krogan Rebellions. #MassEffect #lore
1400 BCE
Genophage Deployed
The turians and salarians deploy the genophage to curb the krogan population, ending the rebellions. #MassEffect #lore
By Silsor - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=516714
1300 BCE
Geth Created by Quarians
The quarians create the geth as labor AI, leading to the Morning War. #MassEffect #lore
1200 BCE
Morning War: Geth Rebellion
The geth rebel against the quarians, forcing the quarians into exile. #MassEffect #lore
1000 BCE
Rachni Wars
The rachni, insectoid species, threaten the galaxy until the krogan are used to defeat them. #MassEffect #lore
2148 CE
Humans Discover Prothean Ruins on Mars
Humanity discovers Prothean ruins on Mars, unlocking mass effect technology and the Charon Relay. #MassEffect #lore
2149 CE
Charon Relay Activated
Humanity activates the Charon Relay, discovering the mass relay network and the galactic community. #MassEffect #lore
2157 CE
First Contact War
Humans encounter turians, leading to a brief conflict known as the First Contact War. #MassEffect #lore
2158 CE
Citadel Council Recognizes Humanity
After the war, humanity gains an embassy on the Citadel and becomes a rising power. #MassEffect #lore
2165 CE
Systems Alliance Founded
The Systems Alliance is formed as humanity's unified government for space exploration. #MassEffect #lore
2183 CE
Eden Prime Beacon Incident
Commander Shepard discovers a Prothean beacon on Eden Prime, warning of the Reapers. #MassEffect #ME1
2183 CE
Shepard Becomes First Human Spectre
Shepard is appointed as the first human Spectre, an elite Council agent. #MassEffect #ME1
2183 CE
Battle of the Citadel
Shepard defeats Saren and Sovereign, preventing a Reaper invasion. #MassEffect #ME1
2183 CE
Saren's Betrayal Revealed
Shepard exposes Saren Arterius as a traitor working with the Reapers. #MassEffect #ME1
2185 CE
Shepard's Death and Resurrection
Shepard is killed by the Collectors but revived by Cerberus. #MassEffect #ME2
2185 CE
Human Reaper Destroyed
Shepard destroys the partially constructed Human Reaper, ending the Collector threat. #MassEffect #ME2
2185 CE
Collector Base Suicide Mission
Shepard leads a mission through the Omega 4 Relay to destroy the Collector base. #MassEffect #ME2
2185 CE
Horizon Colony Attack
The Collectors attack Horizon, abducting human colonists. #MassEffect #ME2
2186 CE
Control Ending
Shepard chooses to control the Reapers, becoming an AI. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Citadel DLC: Party
Shepard and crew enjoy a shore leave party on the Citadel. #MassEffect #DLC )
2186 CE
Overlord DLC: AI Experiment
Shepard stops a rogue AI experiment on a Cerberus base. #MassEffect #DLC )
2186 CE
Bring Down the Sky
Shepard prevents a terrorist attack on a human colony. #MassEffect #DLC
2186 CE
Reaper Invasion Begins
The Reapers invade the galaxy, attacking Earth and other homeworlds. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Destroy Ending
Shepard chooses to destroy all Reapers and synthetic life. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Mass Relays Damaged
The Crucible's activation damages the mass relay network, isolating star systems. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Liara T'Soni's Time Capsule
Liara creates a time capsule to warn future cycles about the Reapers. #MassEffect #lore
2186 CE
Omega Liberation
Shepard helps Aria T'Loak reclaim Omega from Cerberus. #MassEffect #DLC )
2186 CE
Arrival DLC: Batarian Massacre
Shepard destroys a batarian colony to delay the Reaper invasion. #MassEffect #DLC )
2186 CE
Synthesis Ending
Shepard chooses synthesis, merging organic and synthetic life. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Crucible Activated
The Crucible is activated, destroying the Reapers but at great cost. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Priority: Earth
Shepard leads the final assault on Earth to deploy the Crucible. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
From Ashes DLC: Javik
Shepard awakens Javik, the last Prothean, who joins the crew. #MassEffect #DLC
2186 CE
Lair of the Shadow Broker
Shepard defeats the Shadow Broker, with Liara taking over. #MassEffect #DLC
2186 CE
Krogan Genophage Cure
Shepard helps cure the genophage, restoring krogan fertility. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Leviathan Discovery
Shepard discovers the Leviathans, the original creators of the Reapers. #MassEffect #DLC )
2186 CE
Rachni Queen Saved
Shepard spares the rachni queen, securing their alliance. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Cerberus Uprising
Cerberus, led by the Illusive Man, attempts to control the Reapers but is defeated. #MassEffect #ME3
By Eagle Painter - User:Bibi Saint-Pol, Own work, 1 June 2007, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2192736
2186 CE
Illusive Man's Death
Shepard kills the Illusive Man, ending Cerberus's threat. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Geth-Quarian Peace
Shepard brokers peace between the geth and quarians, ending centuries of conflict. #MassEffect #ME3
2186 CE
Shepard's Fate
Commander Shepard's ultimate fate depends on the player's choices, ranging from death to survival. #MassEffect #ME3