A Comprehensive Timeline of Mana
The history of Mana is a vast and sprawling epic of destruction and resurrection. It's wise to learn about the mistakes of the ancestors, or else the world is doomed to repeat them. In that vien, let me present this composite timeline of known history of all the games in the Seikendensestsu universe, and my interpretation of the events leading up to the events in SoMRPG.
(BV = Before Vandole, AV = After Vandole)

- The Dawn of Time -

The Mana Goddess arrives upon the desolate lands and seals the 8 God Beasts of Chaos with the holy Sword of Mana, granting order to the world. The 8 forces are reborn as the 8 Elementals. Humans, sprites, fairies, and all other creatures are created at this time, filling the lands with life. Following this the Goddess becomes a Tree and goes into an endless sleep, watching over the world.

- The Dark Ages, to 1500 B.V. -

Many cycles of darkness pass as the weakened forces of Chaos threaten the Mana Tree and try to usurp Mana. The Mana Family, descendants of the Goddess, wield the Sword and become a new Gemma seed so that the world balance is maintained. The Holy city of Wendel is founded in this period to guide the future generations.

- 1000 B.V. (Seiken Densetsu 3) -

In a time of war, several kingdoms fight over the Pureland, as the power of Mana begins to fade across the world. The vengeful Prince of Darkness retrieves Sword of Mana in the chaos, and uses it's power to release the 8 God Beasts from the Mana Stones to ruin the world. A group of brave Mana Knights stop him, and manage to reseal the terrors before all is lost. However, the Mana Holyland is ravaged and the Tree is destroyed, but a noble Fairy sacrifices herself to become the new Gemma. A millenium passes before Mana fully revives.

- 0 A.V. -

The Mana Empire of Vandole flourishes at this time, drawing upon the power of Mana. Using their technology, they create the ultimate weapon, the Mana Fortress, and thus arouses the anger of the great Mana Beast, causing a war that rocks the land as the Tree is lost. Fortunately, the Gemma Knights wielding the Mana Sword destroy the Fortress and the Empire, and the woman for that time becomes the new Tree. Technological know-how from this period that created the Dime Tower & Underground City is lost, as the Vandole Empire crumbles to ruin. The child Julius is left by the falls of Mt. Illusia as a final hope.

- 50 A.V. (Final Fantasy Adventure) -

Dark Lord of the Glaive Empire, lured by lust for power, tries to open the way to the Pureland to take Mana for himself and conquer the world, however is betrayed by his advisor, none other than Julius. A new hero, guided by the previous Knights Bogard and Cibba, picks up the sword to battle the new threat of Neo-Vandole, destroying the Mana Tree in the process. A girl with the Pendant, believed to be the last of the Mana Family, becomes the new Gemma and balance is restored.

- 185 A.V. -

A new Empire, under a man calling himself Vandole, seeks to revive the powers of the past, and sets about rediscovering the location of the lost Mana Fortress. The hero Serin tries to stop their advance with the Gemma Knights, but fails when he is struck down near Potos Village. Over the course of this battle, his wife Maria is forced to become the new Gemma to seal the Pureland from Vandole's forces, and their son and the Sword are hidden away.

- 200 A.V. (Secret of Mana)-

The Empire focuses it's renewed strength to capture the 8 Mana Seeds so that the Mana Fortress can be revived. Randi, the son of Serin, finds the Mana Sword, and attempts to seal the Seeds before the Empire. However, the ancient weapon is eventually restored to it's original power and the Mana Tree is destroyed. The legendary Mana Beast arises to smash the Fortress and ravage the land once again, but is defeated by the Knights. Popoi, the last surviving Sprite, uses all his remaining Mana to restore order and disappears forever.

- 220 A.V. (SoMRPG)-

The world begins to enter a period of decline without the Mana Tree's presence. The shattered remnants of the Empire, led by Julius XIV, know that true to legend, a Gemma must appear, and scours the lands for the child of Randi and Purim, for they will possess the blood of the Mana Family. If found, the Empire can restore the world, once again flourishing as the Mana Empire Vandole. In the process, Randi is found and killed, but Purim escapes with their infant child and the rusted Mana Sword. The question of what became of this child is still a mystery...

What will the next chapter in this tale be? :)