Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’

Science ^ | Nov. 15, 2018 | Ann Gibbons

[artichokegrower]

Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick what year was the worst to be alive, and he's got an answer: "536." Not 1349, when the Black Death wiped out half of Europe. Not 1918, when the flu killed 50 million to 100 million people, mostly young adults. But 536. In Europe, "It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year," says McCormick, a historian and archaeologist who chairs the Harvard University Initiative for the Science of the Human Past.

[chesley]

Any year before the flush toilet was a bad year.

[LukeL]

At first I thought you were joking, then I thought that could be the title of some king, then I realized you were joking.

[dangus]

Well, they don’t call it “The Dark Ages” for nothing. That’s a name accurately suited for the end of the ancient period than for the medieval period.

[Big Red Badger]

Mass Media has us
Worried about Which
Bathroom to use,
We’ve come along way.

[G Larry]

They should have interviewed Noah’s next door neighbor.....

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

“their wish...” geez

[Conan the Librarian]

Sure there is!

Get books on the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire).

The 536 event hurt there too, but, they were quite civilized and kept meticulous records (the Bureaucracy was strong there). When the Crusade of 1204 conquered them, they stole a LARGE block of historical writings that are now kept in Rome. We know what they thought.

The Chinese were also highly cultured at this time too, but, I have never heard that they wrote about the 536 event. My failing, not theirs.

I still think that the reported Meteor strikes off of Australia had something to do with this event, but, I think that opinion may have to change.

Just because Northwestern Europe was a cess pit at the time, doesn’t mean there wasn’t advanced civilization in the world.

[Alas Babylon!]

From HistoryCentral.com:

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World History 500-600 AD

Arthur's Victory Over Saxons, Svealand-Swedish State, Persian-Roman Wars, Kingdom Of Franks, Nika Revolt, Hagia Sophia Cathedral, Battle at Taginae, The Avars, Justinian Great, Leovigild King Of Visigoths, Battle At Deorham, Sui Dynasty Reunites China, Pope Greogory Obtains 30 Year Truce

500 AD Arthur's Victory Over Saxons-The legendary Arthur won a battle against the Saxons at Mound Badon in Dorset, in Southern England. This slowed the Saxon conquest of England.

500 AD Svealand- The First Swedish State- Svealand, the first Swedish state was founded around 500 A.D. The Goths inhabited the Southern part of the Swedish peninsula. Much of what is known about early Sweden has been taken from the epic "Beowulf", written in 700 A.D.

503 - 557 AD Persian-Roman Wars- Between 503 and 557 A.D.,three successive wars -- interrupted by periods of peace -- are fought between the Persian Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. All have the same basic cause -- an inability to define the borders and the relationship between the two empires. In 567 a 'definitive' peace was reached. Under its terms, Rome agreed to pay the Persians 30,000 pieces of gold annually. The borders between the empire were reaffirmed, Christian worship was to be protected in the Persian Empire, and regulation of trade and diplomatic relations were laid out.

507 AD Kingdom Of Franks - The Franks' Clovis defeated the Visigoths under Alaric II at the Battle of Vouille. The Visigoths retreated into Spain, where they retained their Empire.

532 AD Nika Revolt- A popular uprising took place in Constantinople against Justinian. Constantinople was nearly destroyed by fire. The insurrection quelled with great cruelty by Belisarius. Thirty thousand people were slain.

537 AD Hagia Sophia Cathedral Built- The Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople was completed. The cathedral represented the culmination of Byzantine architecture, with a large domed basilica.

552 AD Battle at Taginae- The Byzantine army invaded Italy and defeated the Ostrogoths at the Battle of Taginae. The Byzantines, using a combination of pikes and bows, decimated the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy.

558 - 650 AD The Avars- The Avars, a Turkish Mongolian group, formed an Empire that extended from the Volga to the Hungarian plains. In 626 A.D., they laid siege to Constantinople, but were forced to withdraw.

565 AD Justinian Great- Justinian the Great died in 565 A.D. bringing to end 38 years of rule as leader of the Byzantine Empire. Under his stewardship, the Empire expanded to include all of North Africa and parts of the Middle East as well as Italy and Greece. Under Justinian, the first comprehensive compilation of Roman Law was published.

572 AD Leovigild King Of Visigoths- Leovigild the King of Visigoths set off to reinvigorate the empire. He extended the Vistigoth dominance to all parts of the Iberian Pennisular.

577 AD Battle At Deorham- At the Battle of Deorham in southwestern England, the Saxons defeated the Welsh. This victory virtually completed the Saxon conquest of England.

581 AD Sui Dynasty Reunites China- After nearly four centuries of internal divisions and strife, China was reunited under the leadership of Yang Jian. A member of a respected aristocratic family, Yang Jian founded the Sui Dynasty. Yang Jian used Buddhism to help unite the kingdom.

598 AD Pope Greogory Obtains 30 Year Truce- Gregory the Great was the first monk to become Pope. For many, he was a model for the future papacy. Gregory controlled the civil affairs of Rome and expanded the power of the Church. Gregory also negotiated a 30-year truce with Lombards, insuring the independence of Rome.

 

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American history and world history can be found at historycental- History's home on the web. Explore our complete time lines of major events in American history as well as World History. Research our special sections on diverse subjects ranging from presidential elections to naval history. Whatever aspect of history you wish learn about, you will find it at Historycentral.com

[Pearls Before Swine]

Is that a haiku? I didn’t count syllables.

[Albion Wilde]

nearly every unusually cold summer over the past 2500 years was preceded by a volcanic eruption. A massive eruption—perhaps in North America, the team suggested—stood out in late 535

Trump's fault.

[Big Red Badger]

Close,
More of coffee kicking in
AND me having the Day Off!

[dangus]

It’s an odd year to choose. It was kinda the year things STARTED to go bad.

[Pearls Before Swine]

3 lines... 17 syllables ... 5-7-5.

Hey, does the “Badger” stand for UW?

[Big Red Badger]

UW,,,
Yes ,I’m wearing Boxers.

[calljack]

“Average global temperatures fell by as much as 1.2 degrees Celsius (34 degrees F)in the year following the eruption.
Hey Wikipedia
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Evidently not.

[P.O.E.]

I'm not going back. You can't make me

[Mr Rogers]

Was that the year Claudius Trumpus became Emperor?

[rarestia]

It's not global warming but global cooling that will get you.

Never understood the big concern about warming. There's plenty of land for us to inhabit, even if the pabulum about rising sea levels was true. Warmth means extended growing seasons and habitability in northern latitudes. Cold means death from famine.

The liberals are the personification of what happens when you dumb down the education system.

[Openurmind]

Thank you.

[Openurmind]

Thank you.

Just like the little ice age... All this unrest indicates folks were very hungry.