The Lisbon Earthquake In 1755: Contested Meanings In The First Modern Disaster
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Date
1997
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Publisher
Disaster Research Center
Abstract
Description
Some disasters are considered more important than others with similar impacts.
The meaning of a particular disaster occasion is created independent of its consequences.
Where there are significant inconsistencies between the impact and the meaning
associated with it should be of interest to the social sciences. "The focus here is the Lisbon
earthquake, Nov. 1,1755, which can be considered the First "modern" disaster. It evoked
a coordinated state emergency response as well as a forward looking comprehensive plan
for reconstruction which included mitigation efforts to reduce future disaster effects. Of particular interest here are the circumstances which led to the earthquake being
attributed to "natural" rather than "supernatural" causes. Prior to that, earthquakes
traditionally had been interpreted as a dramatic means of communication between gods
and humans. In particular, such events previously had been explained as indicating some
disturbance between earthly and heavenly spheres. The Lisbon earthquake can be
identified as a turning point in human history which moved the consideration of such
physical events as supernatural signals toward a more neutral or even a secular, protoscientific
causation.
Keywords
Libson Earthquake, Disaster