Notes on the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake Lecture

Introduction

• Date: November 1, 1755
• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Events: Sudden earthquake, followed by a tsunami and a massive fire
• Impact: One of the deadliest earthquakes in history, tens of thousands died

Lisbon's Context

• Lisbon as a metropolis and capital of a global empire
  • Colonies in Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Cabo Verde)
  • Colonies in Asia (Goa, Macau)
  • Colonies in Latin America (Brazil)
• Portugal's wealth from colonies, built on gold, sugar, and spices
• Social structure: Wealthy elite vs. struggling ordinary population
  • Absolute monarchies in Europe
  • The church as the second biggest power

Global Attention

• The disaster drew worldwide media coverage
• First ever worldwide mediatic catastrophe
• Influenced great minds of the Age of Enlightenment

Philosophical Impact

• Key figures: Voltaire and Rousseau
  • Voltaire criticized theological interpretations of nature
  • Shift towards science as a way to explain the world
• The earthquake contributed to a more significant separation between God and nature

Birth of Seismology

• The earthquake marks the beginning of seismology
• Marquis of Pombal's role:
  • Prime Minister tasked with rebuilding Lisbon
  • Conducted surveys to gather data about the earthquake
  • Established patterns from the data for scientific analysis
• Estimated magnitude of the earthquake: 8.5 to 9
• Characteristics of the fault:
  • Length: 200 km
  • Width: 80 km
  • Displacement: 20 meters (equivalent to a six-story building)

Immersive Learning Experience

• New Lisbon Earthquake Center:
  • Visitors experience the quake's power
  • Blends entertainment with education

Broader Implications

• Lasting effects on:
  • Philosophy
  • Political thought and government
  • Relationship between man and religion
  • Urbanism and science
• Ripple effects:
  • Influenced the end of slavery in Portugal
  • Impacted British trade and potentially American independence
  • May have accelerated the French Revolution

Conclusion

• The earthquake marked the beginning of a new free-thinking era
• Humanity began to question established powers of the church and monarchy
• Considered the birth of the modern age.