How Climate Shifts Shaped Human Innovation
1. **Introduction: The Climate-Innovation Nexus 1.1 Climate as a catalyst for human adaptation For millennia, climate has acted as a powerful driver of human innovation. From the harsh fluctuations of the last Ice Age to the cooling rhythms of the Little Ice Age, environmental shifts forced societies to adapt or perish. Climate is not merely a backdrop—it is a dynamic force that compels innovation, shaping the tools, systems, and knowledge we inherit today. When resources became scarce or weather patterns…