How do you divide up the original Generation 1 era?

[Krayt]

Why are Europe, Africa and Asia classified as separate continents even though it's one big land mass?

Continents as we understand them are a Geopolitical distinction

How are the UK and the Philippines considered part of the continents of Europe and Asia respectively when they're islands unconnected to continental land masses?

Once again, Continents as we understand them are a Geopolitical distinction

What counts as a planet and why?

A planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

Are viruses living or non-living?

Non-living. They require a "host" to provide the mechanics of replication.

Why are Bosnian and Croatian considered different languages despite having a high level of mutual intelligibility, but mutually unintelligible Cantonese and Mandarin are classified as dialects of Chinese?

They aren't. "Declaration on the common language" was issued in 2017.

Why are North and South Korea recognised as separate sovereign states, but Taiwan is not recognised as being separate from China?

1: The Korean War.
2: Taiwan is seperate... Unless you are Chinese. They are seeking their seat on the UN seperate from China.

Why do we call the 10th month of the year "OCTOber" when it means "Eighth month"?

Becaue January and February were added circa 713BC

Why are the letters W and Y classified as consonants when they can sometimes be pronounced as vowels?

A vowel is a sound, not a letter!

Sometimes, the letter "y" is a consonant, and other times it is a vowel. The rule for telling the two apart is simple: The letter "y" is a consonant when it is the first letter of a syllable that has more than one letter. If "y" is anywhere else in the syllable, it is a vowel.

Sometimes, the letter "w" is a consonant, and other times it is a vowel. The rule for telling the two apart is simple: The letter "w" is vowel when it's part of the second vowel in a double vowel.

Ultimately we just decide on general consensus to help us make sense of the world and just run with it, even if it doesn't always make sense.

We don't "just decide" on anything... these things have facts and proof... not just whatever you want to decide on