Abstract: A method for displaying a timeline includes receiving, by a processor, a plurality of events and a plurality of time intervals, wherein each of the plurality of events and each of the plurality of time intervals include an associated importance level and determining one or more time periods that correspond to each of the plurality of time intervals. The method also includes displaying the time periods, wherein a color of a background of each time period is based upon the time interval that the time period corresponds to and indicates the associated importance level of the time interval. The method further includes displaying an icon for each of the plurality of events, wherein the icon is indicative of the associated importance level of the event and wherein each icon is disposed in the time period that corresponds to a date of the event.