What is the term used for the past 11,700 years of Earth's history following the last major glacial epoch?

The term that describes the past 11,700 years of Earth's history following the last major glacial epoch is the Holocene. This period is characterized by significant climatic stability, which has allowed human civilizations to develop and flourish. It marks the end of the last Ice Age and is associated with the rise of agriculture, the formation of cities, and the advancement of technologies that have shaped contemporary human society.

During the Holocene, various changes in the environment, such as the warming climate and rising sea levels, contributed to the adaptation and evolution of human cultures. This period is vital for understanding human history, as it encompasses the development of complex societies and major cultural shifts that have occurred since the last glacial maximum.

In contrast, the Mesolithic is often viewed as a transitional phase between the Upper Paleolithic and the Neolithic, while the Pleistocene refers to the epoch preceding the Holocene, marked by repeated glacial cycles. The Neolithic specifically denotes the period characterized by the beginning of farming and the establishment of permanent settlements, which is just part of the broader Holocene epoch.