The past simple is used for an actionA general term expressing that somebody or something does something taking place over a complete period of timeA period of time that has finished and does not include the time of speaking. E.g.: Geoffrey didn’t go skiing last year. ("last year") in the past, though the exact time when it happened might not be given.

Joe lived in Boston for ten years.
Pterodactyls lived between 1550 million and 70 million yeas ago.
From 1981 to 1984 he worked for Coca-Cola.
He worked in this café between 1905 and 1906. 

Diagrams

Past simple for past habits and states
Past simple Past simple to express a point in the past

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