The 1755 Lisbon earthquake

The earthquake that happened in 1 November 1755 in Lisbon was more than a natural disaster. In that time the Holy Inquisition had a strong position in the portuguese society. In that time science was not so clear as nowadays. Knowledge was reserved to the church and most of the people were illiterate.

First it cames the earthquake, then it comes fire and finally big waves (tsunami) caused a devastated destruction.

The natural phenomenon was the end of the vision of natural catastrophes as a punishment of god. The theological interpretation ended because the illuminism science started in France with Voltaire, tried to explain people the cause of the natural things. At that time the prime minister Marquês de Pombal it congregated efforts to create a newspaper where he explain people why the earthquake happened. So information was an important weapon to fight illiteracy. And then the reconstruction of the city started. It is interesting to verify that almost all churchs burned in the fire (a punishment to the Inquisition?) and the houses of prostitution still intact. It is also interesting the date because 1 November is a religious day (All Saints' Day). So all people had lit candles in its houses to celebrate the day. And what a coincidence? When the earthquake come all people was in the churchs whyle there houses started to burn with the fire of the candles when earthquake shaked the ground. Even today it exists some old houses of stone that had survived to the earthquake by miracle near Belém.

Nowadays we all know why earthquakes happen. But in that time the event was so coincident that people were attemped to think that it was a god punishment. Religion (irrationality) and Science (rationality) allways tried to fight for its positions. Many scientists and phylosophers had problems during their lives because of religious fanatism.

I advise you read the book of Susan Neiman: "Evil in Modern Thought".

See Lisbon in 3D before the 1755 earthquake: link.