The worst 18 months in history: The sun disappears, people don't see their silhouettes at noon

In 536, most of the Earth was in darkness for 18 months when a mysterious fog covered Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. This fog obscures the sun, causing sudden temperature drops, food crops and then humans cannot survive. This was the darkest period in history.

But it was not until 2018 that researchers found the cause of the deadly fog. According to a report in the scientific publication Antiquity (Ancient) , in early 536 there was a volcanic eruption in Iceland , dragging ashes all over the Northern Hemisphere and creating a misty fog like "hell". " . Just like the Mount Tambora (Indonesia) eruption in 1815 - the largest ever fatal volcanic disaster, the event in Iceland in 536 was enough to cause a sudden climate change and crop failure, famines all over the world.

The erupting volcano in Iceland dragged ashes across the Northern Hemisphere and created a fog like "hell". (Artwork).

So, how cruelly 18 months in particular were going to happen? According to the historian Procopius of Byzantine (Eastern Roman Empire), "The sun was still shining as if there were no warm rays of sunlight throughout the year . " The historian Procopius also said: "people cannot avoid wars, epidemics and other catastrophes."

These notes were not taken seriously until the 1990s, according to history professor Michael McCormick from Harvard University. In that decade, researchers observed circles on tree trunks that cut across Ireland, thereby discovering that anomalies actually occurred around 536. Summer in Europe, Asia became colder than 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, China even sees snow. Later, science called the period of 536, after the eruption that erupted to cover the sky, was the period of "Post-Ancient Ice Age".

"Everything changed horribly and overnight," Professor McCormick explained. "Humanity has experienced many mourning scenes." 

Cassiodoris - a Roman politician - recounted in documents: "We see the strange phenomenon that humans do not reflect the shadow on the ground even at noon ." In addition, he wrote that the Sun had changed to a dark blue, the Moon lost its glow and "all the seasons seemed to be mixed together".

The geological research station at Colle Gnifetti (Italy) also helped scientists discover what happened around 536. (Photo: NE Spaulding / Antiquity).

And yet, those who can survive through 536 also suffer from volcanic eruptions in 540 and 547, making the Northern Hemisphere take a lot of time to recover as before. "The post-ancient Little Ice Age began in the spring of 536 and lasted until 660 in Western Europe, while in Central Asia it was not until 680" that ended , according to Professor McCormick.

The year 536 is also the beginning of the harshest period in human history. Due to the cold climate and raging hunger, the European economy was in serious recession. By 541, the plague broke out again, killing one third, even half of the population of the Eastern Roman Empire.

The first plague occurred around 541-542 was the result of a long chain of catastrophes in 536.

According to the Earth and climate scientist Professor Andrei Kurbatov of the University of Maine, there have probably been many continuous volcanic eruptions that caused such a thick fog, but the researchers No concrete evidence has been found yet. However, they still believe that the year 536 is extremely scary, causing millions of millions of people to endure and the scenery is no different from the end. However, people are still able to overcome and develop rapidly to this day, that is, 1484 years have passed.