Copypaste action go go!
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Okay, so here's a rough timeline of Pony History for those who haven't thought about this very deep yet:
Pre-Classical Era: The different pony kinds live separate from each other (Unicorns ruled by a Princess, Pegasi by a Commander, and Earth Ponies by a Chancellor), and only co-operate out of necessity. The Unicorn Kingdom raises the sun and the moon in exchange for a food tribute from Earth Ponies. Star-Swirl the Bearded lives during this period.
Classical Era: Equestria is founded, and the different pony kinds live together.
Discordian Era: Discord conquers Equestria and rules it in a state of chaos, using the ponies as playthings.
Early Modern Era: Celestia and Luna vanquish Discord and rule together, rising the sun and the moon, respectively.
Late Modern Era: Luna becomes Nightmare Moon and is banished into the moon for a thousand years. Celestia raises both the sun and the moon.
The New Age: Nightmare Moon is cleansed and Luna (presumably) takes back her position from before her banishment.
"Pre-Classical Era" is the only name I took from canon (Twilight says that Star-Swirl the Bearded was from the Pre-Classical Era: the Hearth's Warming Eve history states that he lived before the foundation of Equestria). All the events described and their order, however, are in-show canon, or directly concluded from said canon.
And as an aside, Luna never directly stated she knew Star-Swirl in person. She just knew Star-Swirl's costume by heart, which is hardly conclusive proof.
edited 17th Dec '11 5:46:33 PM by Kerrah