While The Pandemic Was One of The Most Stressful Times To Be Alive, 536 Is The Year In History That Scholars Say Was The Worst Year Ever
Many of us who lived through the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the chaos that the 2020s have brought into our lives so far believe this is one of the most stressful times to be alive.
While that may be very true, did you know that there is one year in history in particular that scholars say was the worst year to be alive?
It was the year 536 A.D., and let me tell you, a lot of crazy stuff happened that, upon hearing, might make you feel grateful for the year you’re living in now.
For starters, scientists and historians believe through research that hardly any sunlight was present during 536. It got to the point where no one could see their shadow, and it was as if the sun was totally absent.
A Byzantine scribe once wrote that the sun was absent for a period of 18 months, and it only appeared for around four hours during the day. But during those four hours, it was still extremely dark.
With no sun, there was no way for crops or food to grow properly, so fruit and other crops did not fully ripen. Sounds yummy, huh?
Additionally, throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, a strange fog descended and covered most of the land. So not only was it dark outside for most of the day, but it was foggy as well.
Researchers eventually discovered that a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland in 536 could have been responsible for the fog and darkness as its ash spread to great lengths and affected the land surrounding it.
Not only did the volcanic ash make things look bad, but it also affected the entire climate. Crops were dying, temperatures were shifting, and it led to one of the coldest decades in history. This is referred to as a volcanic winter.
ID 35255645 – © Sindlera – Dreamstime.com – illustrative purposes only
As if that wasn’t bad enough, because of the horrible weather conditions of 536, a deadly plague came to follow. By 541, the plague of Justinian was in full swing, killing people of all classes in Constantinople, the Byzantine, and the Sasanian.
Because of everything that had happened in 536, people’s immune systems were incredibly weak, making the plague extremely contagious. It was the first known outbreak of a plague pandemic, and it was gnarly. It also caused widespread famine, and some historians say it wiped out at least half of the world’s population.
So yes, the times we are living in now have been chaotic, upsetting, and even traumatizing. But many would say it’s hard to name a year other than 536 as the worst year in human history.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
Did You Know That There Is A Woman Whose Name Is On The Declaration of Independence?
From New House To New Home: Tips For Injecting Your Personality Into Your Living Space
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:News