If you’ve ever thought humans are leaving a huge mark on the planet, you’re not wrong.
It turns out that our influence has reached such an extreme point that scientists now confirm we’ve ushered in a new geological epoch—one where humans are the dominant force shaping the Earth.
Welcome to the Anthropocene.
This isn’t just another buzzword or passing trend.
Researchers have now definitively determined that humanity’s actions have not only triggered the start of a new geological epoch, but that this epoch actually began hundreds of years earlier than most scientists initially believed.
While many had assumed that the Anthropocene started with the industrial revolution in the late 1700s, new research suggests the true beginning of this human-dominated era dates back to 1610, sparked by European colonization of the Americas.
This discovery is groundbreaking for a variety of reasons, and the implications for how we view our place on Earth are far-reaching.
Let’s explore the details of this new epoch, why 1610 matters, and what it means for our future on this planet.
A New Epoch, a New Era: Humans as Earth’s Geological Force
Imagine being a species capable of shaping the planet’s entire geological future. It’s no small feat, but that’s what humanity has accomplished.
Historically, Earth’s epochs have been defined by massive natural events, like meteorite strikes, volcanic eruptions, or the shifting of continents.
Yet, in a twist that feels almost surreal, humans have now been credited with creating an epoch of our own making—the Anthropocene.
Simon Lewis, a geoscientist at University College London and lead author of a key study published in Nature, explains the significance: “We humans are now a geological power in our own right—as Earth-changing as a meteorite strike.”
While the reality of our environmental impact may not be something to celebrate, it’s undeniably an impressive—and alarming—achievement.
The Shift in Understanding: 1610, Not 1800
Most scientists had long assumed that the Anthropocene began with the industrial revolution, around the late 18th century.
The argument was clear: the birth of industrialization marked the point when human activity began drastically altering the planet, triggering widespread environmental changes, including unprecedented carbon emissions, deforestation, and pollution.
The fossil fuel boom and the growth of global industry seemed to perfectly align with the start of a new epoch.
But that assumption was wrong. After studying human-induced environmental changes over the last 50,000 years, a research team from University College London has revealed that the Anthropocene actually began as early as 1610, nearly two centuries earlier than thought.
This epoch’s roots trace back to European colonization of the Americas.
You might be wondering: why 1610? What happened then that set the stage for a new geological era?
The 1610 Golden Spike: A Monumental Shift
In order to define a new geological epoch, two crucial criteria must be met.
First, there must be long-lasting, global changes to the Earth’s systems, driven primarily by human activity.
Secondly, scientists must be able to pinpoint a “golden spike”—a key event in history, marked by identifiable physical changes in the geological record, such as ice cores or sediment layers.
For centuries, experts have struggled to find that “golden spike.”
However, Lewis and his team have discovered two possible candidates within the last 50,000 years: 1610 and 1964.
While the year 1964 saw widespread nuclear fallout from testing, which could have signified the beginning of an epoch, the research team dismissed it.
Why?
Because the nuclear fallout didn’t cause long-lasting, systemic global changes.
While it was a significant moment, it wasn’t sufficient to mark a new epoch.
So, what made 1610 stand out?
In 1610, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels experienced a dramatic drop, recorded in Antarctic ice cores.
This shift wasn’t just some random fluctuation; it was a result of profound changes that occurred when Europeans colonized the Americas, starting in 1492.
The mass death of around 50 million indigenous Americans, triggered by diseases like smallpox, caused a massive disruption in farming and agriculture.
This left large swaths of land in Latin America to revert to wild forests, which in turn began to reabsorb CO2, reducing global carbon levels by 7 to 10 parts per million.
The ecological fallout from the arrival of Europeans didn’t stop there.
It created a wave of long-term changes, most notably the global trade of crops like maize and tobacco, along with the subsequent intercontinental travel that helped spread new technologies and ideas across the world.
These massive shifts were foundational to the start of the modern world and ultimately to the industrial revolution.
In short, 1610 marked a critical turning point—a moment when humans made a deliberate and irreversible change to the planet.
But what makes this event even more important is the fact that it set off a chain reaction: a period of cooling that directly preceded the long-term warming that would define the Anthropocene.
How European Colonization Set the Stage for the Anthropocene
While the environmental consequences of colonization are often framed through the lens of human suffering and displacement, this research underscores a broader, geological perspective.
The introduction of European agricultural practices, the massive shift in populations, and the subsequent ecological changes that swept across the Americas laid the foundation for what we now know as the Anthropocene.
Historians and environmental scientists agree that the trade of agricultural products between the Old World and the New World catalyzed transformations not just on a local scale, but globally.
“Many historians regard agricultural imports into Europe from the vast new lands of the Americas, alongside the availability of coal, as the two essential precursors of the Industrial Revolution, which in turn unleashed further waves of global environmental changes,” said Lewis.
This idea of a turning point in 1610 serves as a wake-up call for modern society.
The colonization of the Americas wasn’t just a pivotal event in human history—it also marked a dramatic shift in the Earth’s geological history.
The Long-Term Impact: Are We Just Getting Started?
It’s one thing to say that humans have now altered the course of geological time, but what does this mean for the future?
We’re in uncharted territory, and although we have clear evidence that human actions are reshaping the planet’s surface, atmosphere, and ecosystems, we have no idea where this path will lead.
While the recognition of the Anthropocene could spur some necessary changes in how we address environmental degradation, it’s critical to note that the formal recognition of this new epoch is still pending.
Officially, a new epoch can only be ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
While the evidence is compelling, this process takes time, and the IUGS has yet to make an official decision.
Regardless of when the Anthropocene is formally recognized, the implications for our philosophical, social, and political views on the environment are profound.
In the words of co-author Mark Maslin, “A more widespread recognition that human actions are driving far-reaching changes to the life-supporting infrastructure of Earth will have implications for our philosophical, social, economic and political views of our environment.”
Acknowledging that humans are in the driver’s seat of Earth’s future could become the first step toward addressing the environmental crises we face today.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment in Earth’s History
To say that the human species has changed the world is an understatement, but to recognize that we’ve created a new geological epoch—the Anthropocene—places our actions squarely in the context of Earth’s geological history.
From the dramatic population shifts triggered by colonization to the profound environmental changes it set in motion, the mark we’ve left on the planet is undeniable.
The year 1610, when European colonization led to massive ecological changes in the Americas, seems to stand as the true beginning of this new era.
It’s a reminder of the incredible power humanity wields, for better or worse, and a stark warning about the need for responsible stewardship of our planet.
As we continue to grapple with the consequences of our actions, the recognition of the Anthropocene might be the catalyst for a much-needed conversation about how we, as a species, choose to move forward.
