Final answer:
The punishment Demeter gave to the Earth for the loss of her daughter Persephone was to cease the land's fertility, creating the barren season of winter. This action directly impacted the Earth and humanity until her daughter's partial return allowed for the restoration of fertility during spring and summer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the punishment Demeter gave to the Earth for the loss of her daughter, Persephone. According to the myth recounted in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Demeter, in her sorrow, withheld her gifts from the Earth, leading to the barrenness of the land. The Earth ceased to be fertile, and this manifested as winter, a season when plants do not grow and life seems to halt; a direct consequence of Demeter's grief and a form of punishment to the Earth and humankind for Persephone's abduction by Hades. Eventually, a compromise was reached with the return of Persephone for certain parts of the year, allowing the Earth to be fertile during spring and summer, symbolizing the rebirth and renewal of life.