Why the Year 536 AD Was the Worst Time to Be Alive
It has had some strong competition recently, but no year was worse in history
Medieval scholar Michael McCormick described 536 AD as “the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year.”
Admittedly, McCormick did make that quote back in 2018, and perhaps the last couple of years would have changed his mind, but what was so bad about 536?
Much like the ‘Year Without a Summer’ in 1816 (though temperatures dropped far lower and for much longer in 536), it was all the fault of a major global event, likely a massive volcanic eruption. The skies went dark, crops failed, people starved, and everyone was pretty miserable for years to come.
But the misery didn’t just end when medieval calendars were flipped over to 537. It was the coldest decade in over 2000 years, a horrific plague compounded matters, and its effects were still felt over a century later.
All around, it was pretty bad.
Things probably sucked in 535 as well
Prior to the year 536, life for the average citizen in Europe, the Middle East, or Asia was already a struggle.
