Final answer:
Climatic determinism, especially notable during the 14th century's 'calamitous fourteenth century,' involved dramatic shifts in climate such as the Little Ice Age. These environmental changes significantly influenced human history through creating famines and plagues which shaped demographic and political landscapes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of climatic determinism peaked in terms of academic interest and theoretical development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly with the work of Ellsworth Huntington who published Civilization and Climate in 1915. However, the concept itself can be traced back to ancient civilizations where it was implicitly used to explain the relationship between climate and societies. In the context of the 14th century, referred to as the calamitous fourteenth century by historian Barbara Tuchman, environmental conditions played a critical role in shaping human history. This period was marked by radical shifts due to the Little Ice Age, leading to famines and plagues that greatly affected human civilization.
During this time, the Medieval Climate Anomaly, which allowed for the Viking colonization of Greenland and advances in agriculture, gave way to the Little Ice Age. The shifting temperatures and weather patterns highlighted the impact of climate on the course of human history. The significance of these events has been illuminated through cross-disciplinary collaborations between historians and paleo-scientists, revealing profound insights into our past and informing discussions of climate change today.