Final answer:
The most recent ice age, known as the Pleistocene epoch, ended about 12,000 years ago. This period witnessed significant changes in climate and the extinction of many large animals. Over-hunting by humans is one possible cause of these extinctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most recent ice age, known as the Pleistocene epoch, ended about 12,000 years ago. During this time, there were significant changes in the Earth's climate and the growth and retreat of continental ice sheets. The end of the ice age resulted in the extinction of many large animals, including woolly mammoths, mastodons, and saber-toothed cats. The exact cause of these extinctions is still debated, but over-hunting by humans is one theory that has been suggested.