| Year | 768 AD |
| Events | Third Crusade begins • Caribbean volcanic eruption • Middle East earthquake • European smallpox epidemic |
| Locations | The Holy Land • Caribbean • Middle East • Europe |
| Participants | Christian powers • Muslim powers |
| Significance | Heightened conflict in the Holy Land, global climate and trade disruptions, widespread destruction and loss of life, deadly epidemic |
| Repercussions | Increased tensions between Christian and Muslim powers • Climate cooling and crop failures • Demographic shifts due to earthquake and epidemic |
The year 768 was marked by a series of significant events across the globe:
In Europe, 768 saw the beginning of the Third Crusade, a major military expedition launched by Christian armies to retake Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control. Led by the combined forces of the Kingdom of France, Holy Roman Empire, and other European nations, the Crusade entailed a multi-year campaign that resulted in shifting control of the region between various powers. The conflict had far-reaching consequences, shaping religious and political relations in Europe and the Middle East for centuries to come.
Meanwhile, a large-scale volcanic eruption occurred in the Caribbean in this year, sending a massive cloud of volcanic ash and dust into the atmosphere. This event had significant environmental repercussions, disrupting weather patterns across the globe and leading to colder temperatures, crop failures, and famine in some regions. The ash also posed a danger to shipping, with the resulting disruption in global trade affecting the economic and political fortunes of numerous kingdoms and empires.
The Middle East faced its own natural disaster in 768 in the form of a destructive earthquake that struck the region, causing widespread damage and loss of life. Though the precise location and magnitude of the quake are unknown, historical records indicate that structures and infrastructure were leveled across a wide area. The earthquake's effects were felt most acutely in urban centers, where densely packed buildings and narrow streets exacerbated the destruction. Cultural and historical treasures from antiquity were also lost in the destruction.
Europe found itself in the grip of a deadly smallpox epidemic in 768, as the disease swept through regional populations with devastating consequences. The highly contagious virus, characterized by fever, rash, and disfigurement, had long been a scourge of humanity, causing widespread mortality and suffering. In this year, however, Europe bore the brunt of a particularly severe outbreak, with millions dying as the epidemic spread across the continent. Entire villages and communities were decimated, with the disease leaving a lasting impact on the European demography and political order.
The confluence of these disasters made the year 768 one of significant upheaval and crisis, leaving a lasting legacy on the economies, cultures, and societies of the affected regions.
