Final answer:
The climate in Africa during glacial periods became drier and more arid, which affected the environment and human migration patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
During glacial periods, the climate in Africa became drier and more arid. Although areas at the equator are less likely to develop ice, they can experience significant climate change, such as drying that can transform rivers into swamps and grasslands into deserts. These climatic shifts have profound impacts on both flora and fauna, driving evolutionary adaptations and, in some cases, leading to extinction.
The climatic changes, such as those during the Quaternary Period, also had considerable effects on human populations. As the climate became colder and drier, it likely spurred ancient humans to migrate and expand globally, utilizing land bridges created by lower sea levels. These transformations in climate patterns have historically limited the growth of civilizations in more arid regions of Africa and influenced the distribution of human settlements.