This time period took place 359 to 299 million years ago. 3 min read The Carboniferous period, part of the late Paleozoic era, takes its name from large underground coal deposits that date to it.

Dominated by carbon-rich swamps and forests proliferating across Earth's rocky surface, the Carboniferous period saw a boost in atmospheric oxygen and vast quantities of carbon dioxide trapped in ...

First, it led to the creation of iconic "coal forests" full of giant insects in the Carboniferous period during the ice age. It also paved the way for the rise of reptiles in the Permian period ...