4. Wars Of The Three Kingdoms (China, 184 AD-280 AD): 36 Million-40 Million Deaths
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms devastated China for the best part of 100 years between 184 AD and 280 AD, resulting in the deaths of between 36million and 40million deaths. A so-called "Period of Disunity" erupted following the loss of the de facto power of the Han dynasty in the nation, when the individual states of Shu, Wei and Wu arose to become effectively three separate entities. As well as the brutal fighting which took place at the Battle of Red Cliffs (208 AD), in Eastern Wu and in Cao Wei, a widespread famine also greatly affected the Central Plains of China - ravaging the population. Also, among the many atrocities committed during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms was the plunder and rape of women by Dong Zhuo's forces under his command - as well as the scorching of the earth in several parts of the country once areas had been conquered, meaning starvation became rife. The tripartite system of governance collapsed in 280 once Jin overthrew the Wu empire, but not before close to 20 per cent of the entire population of China had perished.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
