Tree-rings worldwide and other evidence record an almost catastrophic change in the environment during the middle years of the 6th century AD. This supports the writings of Cassiodorus in Roman Italy and other writers across the world who all documented darkness, drought and cold at this time; in AD 541 hunger, disease and warfare killed much of Europe's population. This collection of 16 essays shows how a worldwide event leaves evidence in the archaeological record and examines what actually happened and the dramatic political, economic, climactic and environmental repurcussions across Europe, America and Africa.