The A.D. 536 eruption of an Arctic volcano was so massive that civilizations fell and undying myths … [+]
In A.D. 536, something profound happened to the planet. The sun dimmed, crops refused to grow and ecosystems teetered on the brink of collapse. In the written records of the time, Roman and Chinese scholars described eerie, colorless skies, unseasonable snowfall and mass starvation.
Today, we understand A.D. 536 as a watershed moment in Earth’s history, setting off a chain of events that would impact life on the planet for over a decade—one where life itself was forced to adapt or die.
A.D. 536 Witnessed A Mysterious ‘Death Of The Sun’
It began with a volcanic eruption of staggering magnitude. Ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica reveal evidence of massive sulfate deposits from this period, according to a February 2008 study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Scientists suspect a high-latitude volcanic eruption—possibly in Iceland or Alaska—as the primary culprit behind the A.D. 536 climate catastrophe. This triggered a cascade of climatic disruptions that would go on to cement the year as the “worst year to be alive.”
Less than half a decade later, the Ilopango volcano in El Salvador erupted in A.D. 539 or 540, delivering a second major blow that intensified and prolonged the global cooling event.
The Ilopango eruption expelled 10.5 cubic miles of dense rock, dwarfing even the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption, which caused the infamous “Year Without a Summer.” The explosion devastated the Maya settlements in the region, killing tens of thousands instantly and forcing mass migrations.
The Tierra Blanca Joven ash layer, a deposit from Ilopango’s eruption, spread widely across Central America and was even found in marine sediments off El Salvador’s coast, marking its vast reach.
Compounded by the mystery eruption in A.D. 536 just a few years prior, the cumulative effect of the two eruptions sent global temperatures plummeting by as much as 3.6°F (2°C).
The Sun’s rays were deflected away from Earth’s surface, photosynthesis slowed rapidly and crop failures rippled across continents. Food chains collapsed from the bottom up—marine plankton populations shrank, land-based vegetation withered and herbivore species struggled to survive.
For creatures that relied on consistent seasonal cycles, this was not just an inconvenience—it was an existential threat. Bird migrations were disrupted, insect populations crashed and even microbial life in the soil slowed its metabolic processes in response to the unexpected chill.
The biosphere was in freefall.
Mass Starvation Followed—Threatening Survival
For large mammals, food scarcity triggered immediate crises. In human societies, grain shortages led to widespread famine—Irish chronicles recorded three straight years without bread.
Wildlife populations were equally devastated.
Ungulates like deer and cattle suffered malnutrition as grasses failed. Carnivores, deprived of prey, moved into human settlements, leading to increased predator-human conflicts.
Insect populations, which form the foundation of many food chains, suffered crashes, reducing pollination rates and further impacting plant reproduction.
And then, as if on cue, plague arrived.
By A.D. 541, the Justinianic plague erupted in the Eastern Roman Empire. The pathogen, later identified as Yersinia pestis, spread with terrifying speed, killing up to 100 million people.
One theory suggests that the weakened state of global ecosystems—with higher rodent populations—may have set the stage for one of history’s deadliest pandemics.
The fallout of the volcanic eruption of A.D. 536 saw the emergence of the Justinianic plague—one of … [+]
The A.D. 536 Catastrophe Reshaped Civilizations Around The World
The global climatic upheaval of A.D. 536 left a trail of destruction that reshaped the political and cultural landscape of multiple civilizations. Across continents, kingdoms faltered, economies crumbled and societies saw dramatic changes as humanity struggled to adapt to a new reality.
Already strained by internal conflicts, the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I was devastated by the cascading effects of the A.D. 536 climate crisis. Just five years later, the Justinianic plague further weakened the empire, killing nearly 50% of the population in the Mediterranean region.
The combination of famine, disease and economic stagnation disrupted trade routes and significantly reduced the empire’s ability to defend its borders.
The Persian Sasanian Empire also faced severe agricultural failures due to declining temperatures and erratic weather. Persian military campaigns were hampered by food shortages while weakened infrastructure left them vulnerable to external threats, including Arab and Turkic incursions in the following century.
Clearly, the societal aftershocks of what began in A.D. 536 were profound. While some civilizations adapted and rebounded, others crumbled, making way for new power structures and cultural movements.
Amidst Death And Destruction, Myths Were Born
Lacking the tools of modern science, ancient societies turned to storytelling to explain the unrelenting darkness and environmental upheaval of A.D. 536.
In Norse mythology, Fimbulwinter—a sunless, multi-year winter that preceded Ragnarok (the end of the world)—bears striking similarities to the climate conditions of A.D. 536. In Scandinavia, gold hoards were buried en masse, possibly as desperate offerings to the gods to bring back the sun.
Even Britain’s King Arthur mythos may have roots in this period—with some historians suggesting that the crisis of the late 530s fueled the wars and migrations that later became part of Arthurian legend.
A.D. 536 was not just a climate disaster. It was a civilizational breaking point, an event so profound that it etched itself into the cultural memory of entire civilizations.
Events like the climate catastrophe of A.D. 536 remind us of the fragility of our delicate ecosystem and how quickly change can take shape. Do stories like these drive deeper worries over the dangers of climate change? Take a 2-minute test to see where you stand on the Climate Change Worry Scale.
