The Sixth Astral Era was the era directly preceding the Seventh Umbral Era, lasting for a duration of 1572 years and ended by the Seventh Umbral Calamity five years ago. Having overcome Calamities of the six basic elements, the people of the Sixth Astral Era believed that the worst was behind them, and that this era would foretell everlasting prosperity. Events within the Sixth Astral Era still affect Eorzea to this day, as it is the era that saw the rise of Eorzea's extant city-states—Ishgard, Limsa Lominsa, Ul'dah, and Gridania—as well as the recently-fallen Eorzean city-states of Sharlayan and Ala Mhigo. This era also saw the rise of the Garlean Empire, and subsequent fall of nations such as Doma and Ala Mhigo in its quest to conquer the Three Great Continents.