The Holocene and the Anthropocene

An epoch is a unit of geological time used to describe a specific period in Earth’s history that scientists usually use to study the formation, development, and changes of Earth over billions of years.

The Holocene epoch began about 11,700 years ago, after the last Ice Age. It was marked by unusually stable temperatures, sea levels, and weather patterns. These conditions allowed agriculture to develop, which led to population growth, cities, and civilizations.

All human history has unfolded within this brief window of Earth’s history due to climate stability. But in recent decades, human activities have begun to alter Earth’s systems at a scale and speed never seen before. Scientists now propose that we’ve entered a new epoch: the Anthropocene.

The Anthropocene is characterized by the potential impact of human activity on Earth's climate, land use, oceans, and biodiversity. Now, some effects include changing the composition of the atmosphere, reshaping entire landscapes, and increasing species extinctions. These changes put pressure on the boundaries of Earth’s systems.