The year the Sun Disappeared: New Research Confirms 536 CE Was a catastrophic Turning Point in History
A mysterious, prolonged dimming of the sun in 536 CE triggered a cascade of environmental disasters across the globe, plunging the world into nearly two decades of cold, famine, and societal upheaval. Recent analyses of tree rings, ice cores, and historical records confirm the severity of this event – widely considered the worst year to be alive in the last 2,000 years - and point to a volcanic eruption as the likely culprit. The consequences reverberated for centuries, reshaping political landscapes and potentially contributing to the Justinianic Plague and the rise of Islam.
While historical accounts have long hinted at the catastrophe, modern science is now revealing the scale of the crisis. The event wasn’t a single, isolated incident; a second, smaller eruption followed in 540 CE, prolonging the misery. This period of sustained climate disruption wasn’t merely an inconvenience – it was a civilization-altering shock. Understanding the events of 536 CE offers critical insights into the fragility of global systems and the potential impacts of large-scale climate events, a notably relevant concern in the face of modern climate change.
Historical texts from around the world corroborate the dramatic changes. Byzantine historian Procopius recorded that the sun ”gave off a blue glow” and was dim for 18 months. Contemporary accounts from China and Japan describe snowfall in summer and widespread crop failures. Tree-ring data from around the globe show a meaningful reduction in tree growth, indicating a sharp drop in temperatures. Ice core samples reveal evidence of massive volcanic ash deposits dating to 536 and 540 CE.
The likely source of the initial eruption is believed to be a massive volcano in North America, potentially in Alaska or northwestern Canada. The eruption would have injected enormous quantities of ash and sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere, blocking sunlight and causing a global cooling effect. Temperatures in Europe plummeted, leading to widespread crop failures and famine. The resulting societal stress likely contributed to the outbreak of the Justinianic Plague in 541 CE, one of the deadliest pandemics in human history.
However, the impact wasn’t uniform. While the Eastern Roman Empire and Sasanian Empire suffered, the Arabian Peninsula experienced increased rainfall, creating a slightly greener landscape. this environmental shift, coupled with the weakening of established empires, created an possibility for a new power to emerge. Amidst many other factors, the Arab Empire rose to prominence in the seventh century CE, rapidly becoming a dominant force in history.
an earlier version of this story was published in 2018.
