I think it would be interesting to combine those two concepts for the beginning.
During the height of man's ascendancy and greatness in a technological empire that spans the world (with technology based solely on solar power) the Sun goes out.
Of course, we'd need to figure out why the Sun went out, as that could change things quite a bit. But the other Periods would be what Mankind does to survive this, and we'd find out if they flourish or not. The "End" could be figuring out how to bring the Sun back, or leaving the increasingly dying world they lived on and finding a new one, or any number of things.
During the height of man's ascendancy and greatness in a technological empire that spans the world (with technology based solely on solar power) the Sun goes out.
Of course, we'd need to figure out why the Sun went out, as that could change things quite a bit. But the other Periods would be what Mankind does to survive this, and we'd find out if they flourish or not. The "End" could be figuring out how to bring the Sun back, or leaving the increasingly dying world they lived on and finding a new one, or any number of things.