Climate change has played a big part in how early civilizations grew and sometimes fell apart. It affected their lives in many ways. A huge change happened when humans went from hunting and gathering to farming. This change was mainly because of the climate.

1. The Neolithic Revolution

• About 12,000 years ago, the last Ice Age ended, bringing warmer and more stable weather.
• This warmer weather helped people start farming in places like the Fertile Crescent, where it rained enough (around 300-600 mm each year) to grow crops like wheat and barley.
• Farming allowed these societies to grow larger. In fact, they could support populations that were about 10 times bigger than those of hunter-gatherers.

2. How Climate Affected Early Civilizations

• Civilizations like Mesopotamia, which started around 4000 BCE, grew because of good climate conditions. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded regularly, making the land very fertile.
• But not all climate changes were good. For example, a major drought in Mesopotamia around 2200 BCE caused by changing climate patterns led to failed crops and the collapse of society.

3. Examples of Climate Influence

• The Maya Civilization: Research shows that long dry periods between 800 and 1000 CE caused food shortages and problems in society, linked to climate change.
• The Indus Valley Civilization: Around 1900 BCE, changes in the monsoon season likely caused one of the first big cities in the world to decline because farming became harder.

4. Statistics on Climate and Society

• Studies have shown that about 80% of ancient civilizations link climate shifts to changes in society.
• A review of 27 historical societies found that 65% faced farming problems during times when the climate changed a lot.

5. Conclusion

Understanding how climate change affected early civilizations helps us see how complex human societies are. The ability to adjust to changes in the environment was key for survival and growth in those times. This shows that climate has always played a huge role in shaping human history.