So the big question is, since Milankovitch cycles seem to match with patterns of glaciation, is the Milankovitch mechanism the cause? The answer is, no. Why? Because the periodicity described by the mechanism happens throughout time. Yet, there certainly hasn't been a glacial episode every 100,000 years thoughout the history of the Earth. So Milankovitch cycles do not cause glaciation, although once glaciation has started, the Milankovitch mechanism could explain its pattern in time. In a way, the Milankovitch mechanism is the "pacemaker" of glaciation.