The Pangaea supercontinent was a massive landmass that existed around 335 million years ago during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. It brought together almost all of Earth's landmasses into one large continent, surrounded by a vast ocean called Panthalassa. Pangaea began to break apart about 175 million years ago, leading to the formation of the continents we recognize today. The concept of Pangaea is crucial for understanding the theory of plate tectonics, which explains how Earth's continents move over geological time. The breakup of Pangaea significantly influenced climate, sea levels, and the distribution of plants and animals, shaping the biodiversity we see in the modern world.