536: The Worst Year in History
Everything Everywhere Daily
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The Impact of the Volcanic Eruption of 536
Ice core samples from glaciers in Switzerland found microscopic volcanic glass beads, which were deposited in the year 536. This period became known as the Late Antique Little Ice Age. There was likely another major eruption in 540 and another one in 547. In 541, the world's first true pandemic, the Plague of Justinian, hit the world around the Mediterranean. The Norse apocalyptic tale of Rangarach may have been written in response to this period.
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