pleisztocénnek

The Pleistocene epoch is a geological epoch that began 2.58 million years ago and ended about 11,700 years ago. It is the first epoch of the Quaternary period. The Pleistocene is most notable for being the epoch in which Homo sapiens evolved and during which mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and other megafauna roamed the Earth. The period is characterized by repeated glacial cycles, with large ice sheets advancing and retreating across continents. These cycles of glaciation and interglacial warming significantly shaped Earth's landscapes and influenced the evolution and migration of species.

During the Pleistocene, sea levels fluctuated dramatically as water was locked up in glaciers or released back into the oceans. This led to the formation and disappearance of land bridges, facilitating or hindering the movement of animals and early humans. The epoch saw the development of early human culture, including the creation of stone tools and the control of fire. The extinction of many large mammals, known as the Pleistocene megafauna extinction, occurred towards the end of this epoch, a phenomenon often linked to climate change and human hunting. The end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene epoch marked a return to warmer, more stable climate conditions, setting the stage for the development of agriculture and modern human civilization.