Earth is unique in our solar system for having developed a large- scale continental crust. The genesis and evolution of this crust is a protracted geological process spanning billions of years. Rocks older than 3. 8 Ga and zircons older than 3. 9 Ga have only been discovered in nine and twenty locations worldwide, respectively. Over geological time, the volume of the continental crust has steadily increased through a complex interaction of tectonic processes. Supracrustal rocks have evolved from mainly meta- basalt and meta- ultrabasic rocks to include meta- basalt, meta- ultrabasic rocks, meta- intermediate- acidic volcanic rocks, and meta- clastic sedimentary rocks. Although banded iron formations (BIFs) predate 3. 8 Ga, their global distribution reached a peak during the late Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic. TTG rocks, the dominant constituents of Archean cratons, exhibit a remarkable diversity in rock types and compositions as early as 3. 8 Ga. Over time, the proportion of granodioritic rocks within these cratons gradually increased. Simultaneously, the differentiation degree of light to heavy rare earth elements in TTG rocks increased, reflecting the progressive thickening of the continental crust. A period of significant continental growth occurred during the late Mesoarchean to early Neoarchean, resulting in the widespread development of plate tectonic regimes akin to those observed in the modern era by the late Neoarchean. This period witnessed the voluminous emplacement of K- rich granites, serving as a key indicator of Archean basement cratonization. The essence of cratonization is the physical, chemical, and mechanical stability, along with the intricate interconnectivity of different layers within the craton. The formation and evolution of the Hadean- Archean continental crust can be divided into four stages: 4. 4~3. 8 Ga, 3. 8~3. 0 Ga, 3. 0~2. 6 Ga, and 2. 6~2. 5 Ga. These stages roughly correspond to the formation of the continental nucleus, the development and formation of continental blocks, and cratonization, respectively. The vital transition phase from the Archean to the Proterozoic is of milestone significance in the evolutionary history of the Earth.