The 1755 lisbon earthquake the start of atheism in. The 1755 lisbon earthquake 18th century history the. About halfway through the book, in the chapter devoted quite rightly to the most devastating earthquake ever to have affected europe, in 1755, it occurred to me that hattons main theme is not the sea, as implied by the title, but lisbon s wonderful architecture, civil engineering, streets and institutions. History of lisbon mural lisbon, portugal atlas obscura. It was one of the most destructive and deadly earthquakes in history, killing well over 100,000 people. Violent shaking demolished large public buildings and about 12,000 dwellings. Nearly 100,000 people were killed as the citys structures were leveled. The lisbon earthquake of 1755 forced thinkers to reengage with many of the greatest metaphysical and scientific questions of the day. Lisbon earthquake of 1755, series of earthquakes that occurred on the morning of nov. Sermons from the lisbon earthquake 17011800 church. Lisbon earthquake on 1 november 1755, all saints day, lisbon experienced the worst earthquake known during its recorded history. It destroyed major parts of lisbon in portugal when a fissure as wide as 16 feet opened up in the citys center, followed by a tsunami and fires.
This copper engraving, made in the same year, shows the city in ruins and in flames. The author knows this city intimately and he obviously delights in sharing his discoveries and observations. Lisbon, portugal, during the great earthquake of november 1, 1755. According to walter benjamin, kants slim early book on the earthquake probably represents the beginnings of scientific geography in. The great 1755 earthquake was part of a series of earthquakes probably related to each other that wracked both sides of the atlantic ocean. Essays on philosophy and literature from kant to celan, pp. This gulf of fire examines the lisbon, portugal, earthquake in 1755 nprs robert siegel talks to mark molesky, associate professor at seton hall university, about his book, this gulf of fire. The quake was followed by a tsunami and fire, resulting in the near total destruction of lisbon. The 1755 lisbon earthquake, available seismological studies from the european archive of historical earthquake data. The earthquake that leveled lisbon not only destroyed one of the. The 1755 lisbon earthquake, also known as the great lisbon earthquake, occurred in portugal. Wrath, ruin, and reason in the great lisbon earthquake of 1755 nicholas shrady, 2008. To this day, the 1755 lisbon earthquake is the largest natural disaster ever to hit a european capital and it was only with the first world war that another capital would suffer a greater amount of damage.
German engravers immortalized the before and after depictions of lisbon with ink on paper with works like the ruined capital of the imperial portuguese, the collapse of lisbon and the fires that followed on november 1 st of 1755, and homeless, helpless, maimed and executed criminals forced to public camps by j. It begins with the quake on november 1, 1755 ends with the death of sebastiao carvalho e mello, the portguese statesman who was largely responsible for the effort to rebuild and recover, 22 years later in 1777. The lisbon earthquake of november 1, 1755, the effects of which have been described at length in the iberian peninsula, was likewise strongly felt in morocco, especially on the atlantic coast, which was laid waste not only through the direct agency of seismic waves, but also through that of a formidable tsunami. The powerful earthquake, which shook much of lisbons buildings to ground, was quickly followed by a voracious firestorm that consumed the collapsed structures, killing. The great earthquake that struck lisbon midmorning on november 1, 1755, had farreaching consequences.
The 1755 lisbon earthquake and tsunami in dutch news. Two more tsunami waves followed, as people were swept out to sea, laying the land bare. Contemporary reports state that the earthquake lasted between three and a half and six minutes, causing fissures 5 metres 15 feet wide to open in the city centre. The entire square and city were reduced to rubble after the quake, the tsunami, and the three days of fire. The extensive number of renderings of the 1755 lisbon earthquake found throughout europe demonstrate the traumatic effect the disaster had on the continent. Wood engraving, book illustration lisbon, portugal. After the earthquake for the first time in history a sort of crisis.
The 1755 lisbon earthquake, also known as the great lisbon earthquake, occurred in portugal on the morning of saturday, 1 november, feast of all saints, at around 09. The last day is superb history of the all saints day earthquake of 1755 that destroyed the portuguese capital of lisbon and caused widespread damage as far away as north africa. Marvellous history of lisbon with numerous insights, and written in a wonderful lively style. The 1755 lisbon earthquake, in combination with subsequent fires and a tsunami, almost totally destroyed lisbon and adjoining areas. The earthquake destroyed large sections of the city. Voltaire, rousseau, and the 1755 lisbon earthquake. A depiction of the 1755 lisbon earthquake as seen from across the tagus river. On a day that had begun with blue skies and gentle warmth, portugals proud capital was struck by a massive earthquake. November 1, 1755 was to be a sunny autumn day in the city of lisbon, one of the most important and richest seaports of europe at the time. Thumbnail image, image kz103 dramatic depiction of lisbon along the bank of the tagus river from east to west. The city was virtually rebuilt from scratch following.
The city was virtually rebuilt from scratch following the. In combination with subsequent fires and a tsunami, the earthquake almost totally destroyed lisbon and adjoining areas. Description of the paneuropean consequences of the earthquake and tsunami, by oliver wendell holmes. At this time, the arts flourished in lisbon with the countrys peerless affluence as exemplified in. On the morning of the 1st of november 1755 one of europes most powerful earthquakes struck lisbon. Artists also embraced the event, with depictions of the earthquake ranging. On november 1, 1755, one of europes most powerful earthquakes struck lisbon in the early morning the earthquake and resulting tsunami took the lives of an estimated 60,000100,000 people, making it one of the most deadly natural disasters in history find out exactly what happened and if lisbon is at risk by reading further. Dynes spanish interpretations of the lisbon earthquake between 1755 and the war of. The book represents a golden mean between sci ti c and popular works.
The images are high quality and precise, approaching the verity of photographs. The image was inspired by the 1755 lisbon earthquake. I knew about this book on a tv broadcast about history, and i immediately. Earthquake takes heavy toll on lisbon a devastating earthquake hits lisbon, portugal, killing as many as 50,000 people, on november 1, 1755. It may very well be that the best book on the 1755 lisbon earthquake is yet to be written, but until then, shradys book will do nicely. In seconds it left the city in ruins and in minutes those ruins were on fire. I also never knew about the surge of philosophical thought that came as a result. Whether created by the new desire to investigate, record, and understand the earthquake in natural rather than strictly metaphysical terms, or created by the more sensational desire to report on human calamity, these depictions indicate that the lisbon earthquake of 1755 represents a watershed event in european history. The economic and social implications of the 1755 lisbon. This surprised him since the day was calm and beautiful. The effects of the november 1, 1755 lisbon earthquake in. In the year of our lord 1755 on november 1st, all saints day, portugal the queen of the seas capital, lisbon, was devastated by an estimated 9. More images of the 1755 lisbon earthquake and tsunami.
The place was lisbon, which was portugals capital and the largest city in the area. The 1755 lisbon earthquake request pdf researchgate. The shock waves of the earthquake placed a temporary brake on the emerging rationalism of the european enlightenment and attempts to explain the disaster in terms of human sinfulness. Depictions of the lisbon earthquake were created, copied, and widely distributed and discussed throughout all of southern, western and central europe. The 1755 earthquake shakes up john adams and all of new. The authors, pedegache and paris, made sketches of damage shortly after the earthquake. Destruction and regeneration malcolm jack representations of the 1755 lisbon earthquake charles d. Earthquake of lisbon 1755 from the earthquake facts web site you can read about this historic earthquake and its aftermath. The praca do comercio was the terreiro do paco the palace square until 1755 when the earthquake devastated lisbon. Depictions of the earthquakes in art and literature continued for. Kozak, representations of the 1755 lisbon earthquake. In 1755, the earthquake struck on the morning of 1 november, the holiday of all saints day. Both events occurred, literally out of the blue, at critical junctures in history and both struck at the heart of large trading networks. Somehow, i totally missed the history lesson on the natural disaster that befell lisbon portugal in 1755.
This book is a study of the catastrophic earthquake that hit lisbon on all souls day in 1755 and the 20 years of rebuilding that followed. It is estimated that the lisbon earthquake of 1755, measured at 8. Depictions of the 1755 earthquake national information service for earthquake engineering, berkeley. Images and historical depictions of the 1755 lisbon earthquake. Request pdf the 1755 lisbon earthquake affecting an area of ca. Historical depictions of the 1755 lisbon earthquake. Analysis of the seismic events around the world since 1755 shows only one of a similar or greater magnitude, that in. Tsunamis rush upon the shore, destroying buildings and killing people, even the ships anchored in the harbour sunk image in public domain. By the end of the week 75,000 people in lisbon had died as a direct result of the earthquake, making the earthquake of 1755 one of the most deadly natural disasters the world has ever experienced. A devastating earthquake hits lisbon, portugal, killing as many as 50,000 people, on november 1, 1755. This gulf of fire examines the lisbon, portugal, earthquake in 1755 nprs robert siegel talks to mark molesky, associate professor at seton hall university, about his book.
Charles davy was writing between nine and ten oclock in the morning on this day, november 1, 1755 when his papers began to tremble. Maxwell, pombal, paradox of the enlightenment 1995. The earthquake engineering online archive nisee elibrary. This paper compares the terrorist outrages of 11 september 2001 in new york city and washington to the lisbon earthquake of 1 november 1755. Vonnegut, who once praised voltaires use of the quake in his novel candide. Confronting natural catastrophes in the age of enlightenment 1999. Just after half past nine on the morning of sunday 1 november 1755, the end of the world came to the city of lisbon.
The 1755 lisbon earthquake and tsunami in dutch news sources. Anderson provides a concise, readable overview of portuguese history. Michael upchurch, the seattle times the definitive history of the lisbon earthquake and its aftermath. The 1755 lisbon earthquake took place on november 1, 1755, at 9. The most momentous natural disasters are not necessarily those with the most victims, but rather those producing the greatest shockwaves in intellectual history. Earthquake at lisbon, 1755 from the modern history source book web site you can read the first hand account of the event by the rev. On the morning of november 1, 1755, a great earthquake shook portugals capital city of lisbon as worshipers filled churches and cathedrals for the all saints day mass. This book is written for anyone interested in the earth in general, and in natural disasters in particular, presenting a unique collection of historical illustrations of volcanic eruptions and earthquake events and their repercussions. As you sit on the concrete benches you are reminded of the history of the pillars and the quay.