SS BAI 2 Flashcards
What geological epoch began about 11,700 years ago?
The Holocene
What is the estimated global human population as of 2023?
Over eight billion
What was the global human population before the Holocene?
May not have surpassed ten million
Which epoch was characterized by cycles of glaciers growing and receding?
The Pleistocene Epoch
What event marked the end of the last ice age?
The start of the Holocene
What major climatic event occurred around 20,000 years ago?
The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)
What is the Younger Dryas period?
A cold millennium that occurred from approximately 12,900 to 11,700 years ago
What are the three periods of the Holocene?
- Early Holocene (11,700 to 8,236 years ago)
- Middle Holocene (8,236 to 4,250 years ago)
- Late Holocene (4,250 years ago to present)
What is the Holocene thermal maximum?
The warmest period of the Holocene, from around 11,000 to 7,000 years ago
What significant event occurred at the end of the Early Holocene?
A meltwater event in Canada when a glacial ice sheet collapsed
What characterized human life during the Early Holocene?
- Hunting and gathering
- Mobile communities
- Early agricultural practices
What significant civilization emerged during the Middle Holocene?
The Mesopotamian civilization around 5,500 years ago (3500 BCE)
What was the Mid-Holocene Transition?
A period around 7,300 years ago marked by declining temperatures
What climatic event marks the beginning of the Late Holocene?
The Holocene Turnover, around 4,250 years ago
What is the Anthropocene?
A proposed geological epoch starting around 1950, marking significant human impact on the Earth
What is the significance of the year 2250 BCE in the context of the Late Holocene?
It marks the beginning of the Late Holocene, which spans to the present
What challenges arise when aligning climate history with human history?
Different dating systems and varying historical timelines
How long did the Pleistocene epoch last?
2.6 million years
Fill in the blank: The Early Holocene lasted from _______ to 8,236 years ago.
11,700 years ago
True or False: The Holocene began around 9,700 BCE.
True
Which ice core provides evidence for the classification of the Early Holocene?
The NGRIP2 ice core from Greenland
What did the term ‘Meghalayan’ refer to in the Late Holocene?
A cave in northeast India containing mineral deposits marking climatic events
What was a key factor influencing the fates of human communities in the Middle Holocene?
Local social dynamics along with climatic factors
What date do they typically count back from when dating events that happened thousands of years ago?
2000 ce
What is the significance of the year 3500 bce in human history?
Beginning of civilization in places like Mesopotamia
What does the term ‘Holocene’ refer to?
The current geological epoch that began approximately 11,700 years ago
What major climatic event occurred in Mesopotamia around 2250 bce?
Abrupt climate changes leading to cooler and dryer conditions
Fill in the blank: The Akkadian Empire was established around _______.
2334 bce
What was one of the major achievements of the Sumerians in Mesopotamia?
Development of writing
True or False: All cities in Mesopotamia reacted the same way to climatic changes.
False
What significant structures did Egyptians build by around 2500 bce?
Colossal monuments, including pyramids
What were the three phases of the Indus Civilization?
Early Harappan, Mature Harappan, Late Harappan
What climate-related event is associated with the decline of the Indus Civilization?
Possible changes in weather around 2250 bce
What culture dominated the Andes region around 900 to 200 bce?
Chavín
What major climatic event occurred in 536 ce?
A super cold ‘year without a summer’
How did the weather from the eighth to fifth centuries affect Greek city-states?
Cooler and wetter conditions promoted farming and population growth
What is the ‘Mandate of Heaven’?
A cultural concept in Chinese history that justified the rule of dynasties
What significant agricultural period in China coincided with population growth?
Warming periods throughout history
Fill in the blank: The fall of the Western Roman Empire is commonly dated to around _______.
476 ce
True or False: The term ‘Dark Ages’ accurately describes the entire medieval period in Europe.
False
What is the time frame of the Little Ice Age (LIA)?
Around 1300 to 1850
What were the main causes of the Little Ice Age?
Volcanic eruptions and low solar activity (solar minima)
List the three solar minima periods during the Little Ice Age.
- 1280−1350 (Wolf minimum)
- 1654−1715 (Maunder minimum)
- 1790−1820 (Dalton minimum)
During which periods did glaciers in the European Alps grow larger?
- Late 1200s to about 1380
- 1580s to about 1660
- About 1810 to 1860
True or False: The Little Ice Age affected all regions of the world equally.
False
How did the Little Ice Age impact European contact with the Americas?
It influenced the patterns of conquest and colonization.
What were some of the European empires that expanded during the 1500s?
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Dutch
- British
- French
What climatic conditions were experienced in the Sahel region of Africa during the LIA?
Decrease in rainfall and rise in drought conditions
How did China cope with the effects of the Little Ice Age?
Diversified crops and stabilized food prices
Fill in the blank: The Little Ice Age is associated with a period of _______ temperatures.
[cooler]
What was the impact of the Little Ice Age on Indigenous peoples in North America?
They had special ways to survive tough weather.
What was a notable challenge faced by European settlers in Florida during the LIA?
They struggled to adapt to unpredictable weather.
What historical period is often linked to the Little Ice Age in Europe?
The ‘Seventeenth-century Crisis’
How did the Little Ice Age influence the Enlightenment?
It led people to question old beliefs about the weather.
What is the difference between the Holocene and the Anthropocene?
Transition from a stable climate to one increasingly influenced by human activity.
True or False: The Little Ice Age had no significant impact on the development of modern societies.
False
