Temperatures had slowly risen from the last ice age to reach a level which lasted from 10,000 to 5,000 years ago, then in line with Milankovitch cycles had begun a slow decline, interrupted by a small rise during the Medieval Warm Period, to the Little Ice Age.
Over thousands of years from the last ice age until around 5,000 years ago, temperatures gradually rose and were influenced by Milankovitch cycles. This trend saw occasional spikes during the Medieval Warm Period but ultimately led to a decline that culminated in the Little Ice Age.