24-7 fog for two years, followed by agricultural collapse and mass starvation, followed by a global plague. Tell me about those good old days.

We think we live in hard times? Try 536 A.D. From 536 AD — the worst year in history by Saamir Ansari.

That's a strong claim. But it seems to hold up. The argument for it being the wort year?

It started out with a Stephen King-like event.

The year began with an inexplicable, dense fog that stretched across the world which plunged Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia into darkness 24 hours a day, for nearly 2 years.

That led to cold weather and agricultural collapse.

Consequently, global temperatures plummeted which resulted in the coldest decade in over 2,000 years. Famine was rampant and crops failed all across Europe, Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, 536 AD seemed to only be a prelude to further misery.

But wait, that's not all -

This period of extreme cold and starvation caused economic disaster in Europe and in 541 A.D. an outbreak of bubonic plague further led to the death of nearly 100 million people and almost half of the Byzantine Empire.

The worst year in history? 526 does sound like a good candidate.