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1942 seems to be when the Axis were at their peak and had conquered and things looked most grim for pretty much everyone. After 1942 the Allies did start significantly turning the tide, but when it comes to the worst fate for most people in the world do you think 1942 is the darkest year humanity has ever faced?
If you want to limit yourself to World War II, then I'd say that the first half of 1942 was probably the darkest period, psychologically speaking. But then things started to turn around with Allied victories at Midway and Stalingrad (leading into 1943).
As for the entire sweep of human history, I don't have a candidate for the single worst year.
1945 was one of the brightest years in human history. Two scourges were neutralized and the world breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Europe died??
That's when Europe became divided between the American empire and the Soviet empire. And sure, there had been very bad times before in its history, but at least it had been free to act for itself and fight for itself, if needed.
What about some of the deep crisis years of the Cold War, like 1983 or 1962? Mankind was truly at the brink of wiping ITSELF and the rest of the planet's life out. It's chilling how close we were. I can't think of a more sad or depressing thought, than throwing everything away.
What about some of the deep crisis years of the Cold War, like 1983 or 1962? Mankind was truly at the brink of wiping ITSELF and the rest of the planet's life out. It's chilling how close we were. I can't think of a more sad or depressing thought, than throwing everything away.
Ironically the cold war period, even with some of the regional wars that popped up, was probably the most peaceful and safe period in human history.
People are so recent history focused. Hint - human have been on this world for thousands of years.
OK I my vote besides the black death is the Toba Super-volcano of about 75,000 years ago (obviously exact year unknown) - caused a global volcanic winter lasting about 8 years and a lingering ice age that lasted for another 1,000 years. Caused a global ecological catastrophe, destroyed plants and animals worldwide, and killed most of the evolving human race and left only a few thousand survivors left alive on Earth. Responsible for the "genetic bottleneck" theory in human evolution.
Nice suggestion, and it's all a fact as far as I know.
But actually, all of that was pre-historic. So I guess the "History" forum should be limited to the last 2500 years or so and only to the areas that were able to keep records in one form or another.
The darkest YEAR in human history: That's tough - naming a year. It would depend a lot on where you were.
I'm going with the world wide flu pandemic. 1918.
Quote:
The 1918 flu pandemic (January 1918 – December 1920) was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic, the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus.[1] It infected 500 million people across the world,[2] including remote Pacific islands and the Arctic, and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (three to five percent of the world's population[3]), making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history.[4][5][6] Disease had already greatly limited life expectancy in the early 20th century. A considerable spike occurred at the time of the pandemic, specifically the year 1918. Life expectancy dropped by about 12 years
That's when Europe became divided between the American empire and the Soviet empire. And sure, there had been very bad times before in its history, but at least it had been free to act for itself and fight for itself, if needed.
A. Europe had not been "united" so it can't be said to have been "divided."
B. It certainly didn't "die" by any reasonable definition of "death."
C. So what is Europe now? A zombie?
I'd agree with 1942 as the "darkest" year, but via slightly different reasoning. The origins of participatory democracy, and the open economies which made it possible, can be traced back to the first stirrings of what came to be called the Enlightenment; those beliefs took root on both sides of the Atlantic, and it might also be noted that the effort to eradicate slavery was the first, and noblest example of cooperation between foresighted individuals from different nation-states.
But that spirit came under attack; first from mercantilism and the search for captive territories in the mistaken belief that "trade followed the flag"; when that war ended in a stalemate, authoritarian mass movements arose and grew among the population of the vanquished would-be conquerors, and these drew their strongest support among the displaced former middle classes looking for a scapegoat. The trend which begat history's bloodiest chapter originated in 1919, festered in the Twenties, intensified through the Thirties, and 1942 was the high-water mark in the cesspool.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 10-12-2016 at 11:24 AM..
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