 The history of the world of Krynn , and thus the settings for both the novels and gaming supplements , is roughly split into five separate ages . The first age is the time of creation , when the gods are born and Krynn is formed . The Age of Dreams , the second age , is marked by the rapid growth of the world 's first great civilizations and the appearance of myriad new races . This era is also marked by three great wars between dragons and their minions . Following the Third Dragon War , in the Age of Might , the Cataclysm obliterates the great empire of <unk> and changes almost the entire surface of Krynn . A three @-@ hundred year depression follows this event , in what is called the Age of Despair . This period also marks the War of the Lance . When Dragonlance was first introduced to Dungeons & Dragons , events such as the Lost Wars happened during The Age of Despair . 
