Final answer:
The Little Ice Age was a period of global cooling from approximately 1500 to 1850 AD, with cooling effects most intensely felt in North Atlantic and Europe. It led to the expansion of glaciers, agricultural hardships, and famine, with causes still being debated by scientists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period in question is known as the Little Ice Age, a significant climate event marked by a drop in temperatures and harsh winters, particularly affecting the North Atlantic and Europe. Associated with a period of global cooling from approximately 1500 to 1850 AD, the Little Ice Age included notably cold phases such as the Maunder Minimum.
During the Little Ice Age, the cooling led to the expansion of mountain glaciers and had serious repercussions on agriculture, causing crop failures and famines. Factors contributing to this climate anomaly could include volcanic eruptions, shifts in ocean currents, and possibly changes in solar activity, although the exact causes are still debated among scientists.
This climate phenomenon is encapsulated by anecdotal historical records, such as the River Thames freezing over and the challenges faced by people and societies during this time due to colder weather and shorter growing seasons for crops.