Final answer:
The claim that people believed the Earth was dying at the end of the Roman Climate Optimum is false. The period following the Optimum did see colder climates and societal challenges, but the specific belief about the Earth dying is not supported by historical records.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that people believed that the Earth was dying at the end of the Roman Climate Optimum because the Northern Hemisphere became colder and drier, there were fewer monsoonal rains, and the Sahara became a vast desert is false. The Roman Climate Optimum was followed by a period of cooling known as the Little Ice Age, which did lead to harder living conditions, as evidenced by the end of the warm period, the onset of colder and drier climates, and less predictable seasons. However, the specific belief that the Earth was dying is not documented as a widespread view.
Climate events have certainly impacted civilizations throughout history, provoking migrations, famines, and changes in societal structures due to alterations in food supplies and habitats. The Little Ice Age, for example, affected Europe with colder temperatures, which led to famines and plagues that severely impacted the population. These historical climate changes underscore the significance of climate and environmental conditions on human societies.