Final answer:
The last 10,000 years is known as the Holocene, which is the most recent epoch within the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic Era, characterized by the rise of human civilization and significant climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The last 10,000 years is called the Holocene. This is a subdivision of the Quaternary Period, which is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era, starting approximately 2.588 million years ago and continuing to the present day. The Cenozoic Era is often referred to as the age of mammals, as this is the time when mammals evolved to fill many ecological niches left vacant by the extinction of dinosaurs. The Holocene epoch specifically represents the most recent part of geological time when the last ice age ended about 12,000 years ago, approximately coinciding with the rise of human civilization.
During this time, significant climate changes took place, leading to a series of ice ages throughout the Quaternary. The most recent ice age ended about 12,000 years ago, marking the beginning of the Holocene. Mammals, such as the woolly mammoths, adapted to these cooler climates by evolving larger sizes and thicker fur. The Holocene epoch is also noted for widespread human impact on the Earth's ecosystems, leading to what some call the sixth mass extinction.