Final answer:
The 'Little Ice Age' refers to the period of global cooling from approximately 1500 to 1850, where the Maunder Minimum marked some of the coldest years. Despite the slight average drop in temperature, this event significantly affected agriculture and led to widespread famine and harsher winters, especially in Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period associated with widespread global cooling from approximately 1500 to 1850 is known as the Little Ice Age. This climatic event led to significant changes in weather patterns, resulting in colder temperatures, especially in the North Atlantic and Europe. One of the coldest phases within this period was the Maunder Minimum, associated with very low sunspot activity, which elicited much scientific debate about the sun's influence on Earth's climate. The causes of the Little Ice Age are not fully understood, but potential factors include volcanic eruptions, changes in ocean circulation, and shifts in the Earth's orbit. Despite the average global temperature decrease being less than 1°C, it had profound effects, such as harsh winters and widespread famine, due to the period's impact on agriculture.