This document discusses the causes of ice ages throughout Earth's history. Key factors that can influence the climate and trigger ice ages include variations in Earth's orbit and axis known as Milankovich cycles, changes in atmospheric greenhouse gases from processes like the carbonate-silicate cycle, and continental configurations. Past extreme glaciation events provide evidence of possible "Snowball Earth" scenarios where the entire planet froze over due to factors like low sunlight or shifts in biological processes. While natural long-term climate cycles are expected to continue, human-caused global warming may have significant impacts within shorter timescales before fossil fuels are depleted.