The construction of the Geologic Time Scale (GTS) is a titanic scientific challenge that has been under way for two centuries and will require much dedicated effort in the future. Italy preserves a paramount stratigraphic

record of Mesozoic and Cenozoic marine sediments that have been significant in the development of the modern GTS. Our aim here is to review the role of the Italian stratigraphic record in various accomplishments outlined above and comment on ongoing work and prospects for the future.