- England becomes an island 🏝️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 **Mesolithic Britain (~10,000–4,000 BC, with focus around 6,000 BC)** The Mesolithic, or “Middle Stone Age,” in Britain followed the end of the last Ice Age, when the climate warmed and glaciers retreated. Around **6,000 BC, rising sea levels submerged the land bridge known as Doggerland**, separating Britain from continental Europe and transforming it into an island. This period is marked by: - **Hunter-gatherer communities** exploiting forests, rivers, and coasts. - Use of **microlithic tools**, fishing gear, and small-scale woodland management. - **Significant ecological changes** as postglacial forests spread and animal populations shifted. Globally, the Mesolithic represents a transitional phase between the Palaeolithic’s ice-age adaptations and the Neolithic’s agriculture and settlement, reflecting humanity’s increasing ability to adapt to changing climates and rising seas. Britain’s insularity influenced later cultural development by isolating populations and shaping resource use. --- ![[6,000 BC.jpg]] **[Mesolithic Britain (History Magnet channel)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MnuQq3gZYI) (~6,000 BC):** Britain became an island as Doggerland was flooded. Hunter-gatherers used microliths, fished rivers, and exploited forests. This period bridges the ice-age Palaeolithic and agricultural Neolithic, highlighting adaptation to rising seas and postglacial environments. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`