How Glacial Cycles Shaped Our Ancestors’ Journey
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Human evolution has been impacted by so many events over millenia; events that have shaped our physical, cognitive, and cultural development. Our species has had to deal with the pressures of surviving in all manner of harsh environments and climates, which drove them to innovate, migrate, and cooperate in ways that laid the foundation for modern human societies. We can gain a deeper understanding of our evolutionay history by understanding the role that ice ages played on our species.
Our planet has undegone signigicant changes in its climate throughout its history. It has oscillated between warm and hot periods to extremely frigid ice ages. These cycles impacted the environement and reshaped landscapes and ecosystems necessary for all life — including humans. Therefore, the story of our survival and development is deeply intertwined with these climatic shifts, which forced our ancestors to adapt, migrate, and innovate in ways that would define our species and make it the most prolific form of life on this planet.
What are Ice Ages and Glacial Cycles?
Prolonged periods of colder global temperatures are known as ice ages. Such frigid temperatures lead to the expansion of continental ice sheets and glaciers, especially the ones at…
