Worst Catastrophe in History

Quote: Pacomartin

Of course he died in 1834 and he didn't see France approach Zero Population Growth in the late 19th century. I don't think there was any way to forsee massive birth control.

He also missed Norman Borlaug and the Green revolution.

Quote: Face

The Great Leap Forward?

First one that sprang to mind, as well as the Spanish flu epidemic. The two world wars also rank in there. The flu epidemic and world wars had global scale effects

The Battle Changping has claims that 700,000 people died which would have been 0.5% (ish) of the world population at the time, dead in one miltary action (46 day siege led the massacre of the Zhoa army).

Quote:

Genesis 6-9?

The mid-90s Buffalo Bills?

I can resist that lead in.... honest.

Quote: Face

Genesis 6-9?

Wiped out a whole raceof Nephilim

Quote: Pacomartin

Gallic Wars of Julius Ceasar. He claimed a million deaths when the population of Europe was less than 30 million.

He claimed lots of things.

The primary source for Caesar's Gallic conquests is old Julius himself, writing for his time. You have to allow for a great deal of exaggeration as self-promotion.

Quote: Nareed

Constantine's adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Rome

Two things about this:

1) before adopting Christianity as a state religion, Constantine first issued the Edict of Milan. This imposed toleration of all religions in the Empire.

Pagan societies tended to be fairly tolerant of other religions, but Christianity really rubbed them the wrong way for several reasons (not in this thread). It took Constantine's edict to end the persecution of Christians, although the end was nigh anyway.

But making Christianity a preferred religion also spelled the end of toleration. This ended paganism in Europe and turned Jews from odd but valued citizens into pariahs. It needlessly complicated relations with Islam, too.

2) As Christianity inevitably splintered, early and often, this led to religious conflicts and wars later on.

Quote: Face

The mid-90s Buffalo Bills?

Now that is funny.