age、epoch、era、period 与 times这些名词均含“时期、时代”之意。
age ：常指具有显著特征或以某杰出人物命名的历史时代或时期。
- the age of the computer
计算机时代
epoch ：正式用词，侧重指以某重大事件或巨大变化为起点的新的历史时期。
- 文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement. - 现任总统称他的国家正在步入一个长治久安的新时代。但事实上，这个国家摇摇欲坠的经济现在陷入了严重危机。
The incumbent president said that his country was moving into a new epoch, which would be one of lasting peace. But in fact, the country's faltering economy is now in grave peril.
（拓展学习：小词详解 | epoch）
era ：书面语用词，指历史上的纪元、年代，可与 epoch 和 age 互换，侧重时期的延续性和整个历程。
- We are on the threshold of a new era in astronomy.
我们很快就将迎来天文学的新纪元。 - It marks the beginning of a new era in human history.
这标志着人类历史新纪元的开始。 - In the Reagan era, well-connected Republicans received favoured treatment in this organization.
在里根时代，一些关系硬的共和党人在这个机构中多受到了优待。
period ：最普通用词，概念广泛，时间长短不限，既可指任何一个历史时期，又可指个人或自然界的一个发展阶段。
- the post-war period
战后时期 - Most teenagers go through a period of rebelling.
大多数青少年都要经历一段叛逆期。
times ：侧重某一特定时期。
- They were hard times and his parents had been struggling to raise their family.
那是段艰苦时期，他父母一直艰辛地养家糊口。
