Why 536 Was 'the Worst Year to Be Alive'

Why 536 was 'the worst year to be alive'

Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick what year was the worst to be alive, and he's got an answer: "536." Not 1349, when the Black Death wiped out half of Europe. Not 1918, when the flu killed 50 million to 100 million people, mostly young adults. But 536.