Human land use has changed ecosystems globally, but recent research shows that this has been happening for thousands of years, not just recently. Small human populations caused significant ecological changes over 3,000 years ago, while today's larger populations are using less land per person. By studying historical land use, scientists have found that humans have been adapting their land use practices over time, leading to a more detailed understanding of our planet's history. Integrative global models that consider these adaptations help us understand past and future land use changes and their potential global impacts.