Experts Revealed The Worst Year In Human History – And Why It Was A Truly Terrible Time To Be Alive

Every year, it seems, there are people quick to declare it “the worst yet” – and often with good reason. From periods marred by climate crises and far-reaching wars to those defined by global pandemics, there’ve been plenty of candidates for the dubious accolade. But recently, experts declared an unfortunate winner.

Undisputedly Bad

So when really was the worst year to be alive? Was it 1918, when the world shifted from brutal war to killer disease? Or earlier, in 1349, when the Black Death stalked much of Europe? In a revelation that might well surprise you, experts have revealed that there was one period that was even grimmer than these strong contenders.

Seemed Like The End

During this year, a strange cloud swept over Europe, dulling the sun’s rays and heralding a time of famine and death. In its wake, harvests were ruined and temperatures plummeted as far away as China, creating wide-spread confusion and despair. And almost overnight, people everywhere found themselves facing what must have felt like our planet’s final days.

No Light, Only Shadow

At the time, Roman witnesses wrote of a constant eclipse and an eerie atmosphere that left a blue pallor across the Earth. According to the legislator Cassiodorus, even shadows disappeared, while the seasons became impossible to tell apart. And that was just the start of what experts have deemed the darkest time to be alive.

One Major Pandemic

But what horrors did this year need to beat out in order to win this unfortunate accolade? Looking at history, it soon becomes clear that the competition was tough. In the mid-14th century, for example, the deadliest pandemic in human history reached its peak in Europe. And by the end of the outbreak, as many as 200 million people had died – 50 percent of the continent’s total populace.