536 CE

 That line is referring to a real historical claim: some historians think 536 CE may have been one of the worst years in human history because of a cascade of disasters that hit much of the world at once.

Here’s what they’re talking about:

1. A mysterious darkening of the sun
The Byzantine historian Procopius wrote that the sun “gave forth its light without brightness… like the moon.” Similar reports came from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Modern scientists think a massive volcanic eruption (possibly in Iceland or North America) blasted ash into the atmosphere, dimming sunlight for over a year.

2. Global cooling and crop failures
Tree-ring data shows temperatures in 536–540 CE dropped dramatically — possibly the coldest decade in 2,000 years. This caused widespread crop failures, famine, and economic collapse across Europe and parts of Asia. Historian Michael McCormick has called 536 “the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive.”

3. Then came the plague
Just a few years later, in 541 CE, the Justinianic Plague struck the Byzantine Empire and spread widely. It killed millions and further destabilized already weakened societies.

Why 536 stands out

• Sudden atmospheric dust cloud
• Coldest decade in centuries
• Crop failures and famine
• Economic collapse
• Followed by a devastating pandemic

Put together, it wasn’t just one bad year — 536 kicked off a brutal chain reaction lasting years.

So the quote is basically saying: things may feel bad now, but at least the sun didn’t dim, harvests didn’t fail worldwide, and a plague didn’t immediately follow — all at once.