Holocene Thermal Maximum

The Holocene Thermal Maximum was a period roughly 9,000 to 5,000 years ago when global temperatures were warmer than today. During this time, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, summers were warmer, and ice sheets from the last Ice Age shrank significantly. This warm period allowed for more extensive plant growth and the development of early civilizations. It was influenced by natural climate patterns, including Earth's orbit and solar activity. After this period, the climate gradually cooled and stabilized into the relatively stable climate we experience today.