With the release of Marvel's Star Wars: The High Republic #1, as well as the new novel -- Star Wars: The High Republic - Light of the Jedi -- the franchise is entering an uncharted time period in the galaxy's history. The new period, referred to as the High Republic, marks a reconfiguration of the Star Wars timeline. The new timeline is bracketed into specific eras to help clarify the timing of Star Wars events that are explored in the novels, comics, games, shows and films.
Prior to the new timeline, the various time periods of Star Wars were bracketed by years, with the central point being the Battle of Yavin 4. The Battle of Yavin 4, taking place at the end of A New Hope, marked a crucial point in the Rebellion's fight against the Empire. The years preceding the Battle of Yavin 4 were referred to as BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), with the years after being called ABY (After the Battle of Yavin).
Early in the franchise's life, timing the galaxy's events in relation to that event made more sense. Star Wars' history didn't expand far beyond the world seen in the original and prequel trilogies; however, with the addition of more lore to the galaxy through other mediums, such as novels and comics, the world grew well beyond the confines of the Skywalker Saga.
With the Star Wars franchise now beginning the High Republic era, the creators are taking a chance to simplify the timeline into cleanly organized eras, with the High Republic era set to take place around 600 years before The Phantom Menace, which takes place in 32 BBY. While this makes it easier to organize time periods, it is likely that the BBY/ABY timing will continue to be used in tandem with these changes.
The new timeline begins with the High Republic Era. Marking the highest peak of the Jedi Order's power in the galaxy and a time of peace for the Republic, this is the newest era for the Star Wars universe to explore. Following the High Republic era is the Fall of the Jedi. This time period consists mostly of the prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars. The Fall of the Jedi era ends with the events of Order 66 and the dissolving of the Galactic Republic.
The Reign of the Empire marks the subsequent era where the Empire was at its most powerful. Both the recently announced The Bad Batch, as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story, take place during this era. Following the Reign of the Empire is the Age of Rebellion era. This period consists of Star Wars: Rebels, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the original trilogy. The Age of Rebellion marks the growing strength of the Rebels, and it ends with the Empire's fall.
The New Republic era follows thereafter, with The Mandalorian being the main window into the time period. This era is marked by the galaxy's attempt to reconfigure the galactic government back into a Republic, as it was prior to the creation of the Empire. The new timeline then ends with The Rise of the First Order, an era that sees the Resistance taking on the First Order in an attempt to protect the New Republic from it. This era consists of the show Resistance and the sequel trilogy.
Another timeline was also released in Star Wars: The High Republic - Light of the Jedi, illustrating when each novel takes place in relation to the films, with Light of the Jedi, Dooku: Jedi Lost and Master and Apprentice taking place during the High Republic era, Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising, Dark Disciple: A Clone Wars Novel, Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel, Lords of the Sith and Tarkin taking place during the Fall of the Jedi era and Thrawn, A New Dawn: A Rebels Novel, Thrawn: Alliances and Thrawn: Treason taking place during the Reign of the Empire.
The Age of Rebellion and the New Republic eras feature the most novels combined with Battlefront II: Inferno Squad, Heir to the Jedi, Doctor Aphra, Battlefront: Twilight Company, The Alphabet Squadron, Last Shot, Bloodline, Phasma and Canto Bight. Meanwhile, the Rise of the First Order has the least, with Resistance Reborn and Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire.
With the future release of the many new Star Wars projects over the next few years, the eras carved out in the new timeline will help viewers piece the events together in a more coherent way. The lore of the galaxy far, far away will be more accessible and organized for fans to explore now that the timeline's been reformatted.