Characteristics

• Cold Climate: The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) featured extensive ice sheets covering large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Lower Sea Levels: Sea levels were significantly lower due to the vast amounts of water trapped in ice.

Causes

• Milankovitch Cycles: Variations in Earth’s orbit and axial tilt led to significant cooling and glaciation.
• Atmospheric Conditions: Lower greenhouse gas concentrations contributed to colder temperatures.

Impacts

• Human Migration: Humans adapted to colder conditions, with populations migrating to warmer areas as ice sheets retreated.
• Flora and Fauna: Many species, including megafauna like mammoths and saber-toothed cats, thrived in cold environments but faced extinction as the climate warmed.

Characteristics

• Post-Ice Age Warming: Following the LGM, the Earth entered a warming phase that marked the end of glaciation.
• Increased Biodiversity: Warmer temperatures led to the expansion of forests and grasslands.

Causes

• Orbital Changes: Continued Milankovitch cycles influenced climate stability and warmth.
• Vegetation Changes: Shifts in vegetation cover altered local climates, contributing to warmer temperatures.

Impacts

• Human Development: The warming climate facilitated the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural societies.
• Agricultural Beginnings: Early farming began in the Fertile Crescent, leading to the rise of civilizations.

Characteristics

• Stabilized Climate: The climate became more stable and warmer, with notable regional variations.
• Increased Humidity: Many areas, particularly in Africa and the Americas, experienced wetter conditions.

Causes

• Continued Warmth: Influenced by orbital mechanics and increasing atmospheric CO2 from vegetation growth.

Impacts

• Rise of Complex Societies: Agricultural surplus supported population growth and the emergence of cities.
• Cultural Flourishing: Development of trade networks, technologies, and social structures in regions like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

Characteristics

• Agricultural Expansion: Marked by the domestication of plants and animals.
• Population Growth: Settlements expanded as agriculture provided reliable food sources./li>

Causes

• Climate Favorability: The warmer, stable climate allowed for consistent crop production and livestock management.
• Social Dynamics: Increased food availability supported larger, more complex communities.

Impacts

• Civilization Formation: The development of writing, governance, and trade systems, particularly in river valley civilizations.
• Environmental Changes: Land use changes began to alter ecosystems and regional climates.

Characteristics

• Variable Climate: Continued fluctuations in climate affected agricultural practices.
• Regional Cooling Trends: Some areas experienced cooler conditions towards the end of this period.

Causes

• Shifts in Climate Patterns: Changes in atmospheric circulation and ocean currents influenced regional climates.

Impacts

• Cultural Adaptations: Societies adapted to changing conditions through innovations in farming and settlement patterns.
• Emergence of Trade Networks: Increased trade connections helped distribute resources, mitigating some climatic impacts.