The Volcanic WInter of 536: video worksheets, differentiated

Please ensure you can access the video before you get this resource. 2020 (pandemic, political turbulence and environmental problems) compared with 536 (volcanic winter, plague). Using contemporary sources and modern scientific evidence, the film reconstructs the events and consequences of 536: a massive volcanic eruption; global cooling, darkness, crop failure. Human responses to the events of the time including burial of treasure, Fimbulvetr and Ragnarök. The Plague of Justinian. Comparisons with 1348 Black Death, 1918 H1N1 Spanish Flu, and Covid 19. Estimated mortalities (gross and rates) compared. 536 volcanic event compared to 1815 Mount Tambora eruption. Effects on visual arts, Frankenstein. Bacterial Cholera in Asia. How would such an eruption affect us today?

Find the film by searching YouTube’s BE AMAZED channel for “YOU THINK 2020 IS BAD… Wait ‘Til You Hear About The Worst Year Ever”.

15 questions for the 26-min film. Differentiated! Both versions look very similar, but “B” version has subtle clues. Answer sheet. Very easy to mark. .doc & .pdf for all files. Link to video on all sheets.