#Morning journal lisbon cu full#

However, it was a bit different with the Lisbon earthquake. So it was in antiquity so it is today, despite all the successes of seismology, despite targeted governmental programs for earthquake prediction, and despite thousands of sensors and instruments operating in seismically active areas. Striking unexpectedly, it breaks the timeline for all those affected – people, cities, or entire states – into “before” and “after”. However, a strong earthquake always comes unheralded. Social upheavals such as epidemics, wars, or economic crises, and even natural disasters such as storms or floods are usually preceded by signs of an impending catastrophe, no matter how subtle and easy to miss. Being the main waterway of the Iberian Peninsula, the Tagus gave Lisbon an excellent connection line with Toledo, a crucial economic and commercial center of Spain, which, in the 16–17th centuries, shared control with Portugal over the rest of the world.īut neither the riches nor the protected harbor proved able to save the majestic Portuguese capital from the natural disaster that struck the city on the festive autumn morning of November 1, 1755. In this respect, Lisbon enjoyed undeniable advantages over Cadiz, the main Spanish port on the Atlantic, whose harbor was much less convenient because of its low, sloping shores, which offered little protection from Atlantic winter storms. The city found it place at the Tagus’ mouth, a magnificent and well-protected harbor for ships. The favorable geographical position of Lisbon played an important role in the development of the city and all of Portugal. There was a popular saying among the Europeans: “ Oui no ha visto Lisboa non ha visto cosa boa” (“He who has not seen Lisbon has not seen beauty”). This prosperous and genuinely beautiful city spread out over the hilly slopes on the right bank of the Tagus River. In the mid‑18th century, Lisbon became, in fact, not only the main seaport of Europe but also the fourth largest (after London, Paris, and Naples) European city with a population of about 275,000 people. Having turned its capital city into an entrance gate for goods from all over the world, Portugal became the main customs house of Europe and put on an equal footing in talks with such European giants as Italy, France, or Germany.

Portugal began with mapping a sea route around Africa to deliver Indian jewelry and spices from the Moluccas to Europe, and by the mid‑16th century, it had become a great maritime power, the discoverer of the entire eastern hemisphere. Situated on a narrow strip of the Iberian Peninsula, “regarded as a Cinderella” in Europe, as Stefan Zweig wrote about Portugal, with a population of barely more than one and a half million people, this country managed to use its geographical position to great advantage. The end is approaching of the year 1755, one of the most successful years for the prosperous state. Two months earlier, a flotilla of 28 ships returned from Rio de Janeiro, delivering to the metropolis almost 2.5 tons of Brazilian gold in sand and nuggets – worth more than 8 million reais! The ships also brought large cargoes of sugar, tropical spices, ivory, ebony, mahogany, whalebone… – all those goods for which the rest of Europe was willing to pay handsomely.

#Morning journal lisbon cu full#

The harbor of Lisbon is full of ships from all over the world the stores and warehouses of the adjoining Lower City abound with an immense variety of goods from all the four continents. The streets in the city are teeming with people, festively dressed, heading to churches and market plazas, or just strolling along the promenade. In the palace, the royal family is getting ready to receive ambassadors, prelates, and ministers and to attend a solemn mass in the Cathedral of San Roque, richly decorated for the occasion. All the churches in the capital city of Portugal are full of people who have come to the morning mass. The blazing summer heat is gone a mild morning breeze is blowing from the sea. Imagine the warm and sunny morning of Saturday, November 1, 1755, All Saints’ Day, one of the main Catholic holidays. This strongest earthquake in Europe, which caused the only transoceanic tsunami known in the Atlantic, impacted the development of seismology, one of the most important branches of modern geophysics It not only destroyed the capital of Portugal, plunging the survivors into panic horror, but also shattered the minds of people throughout the enlightened Europe, raising the question about the “goodness of God” and the role of Providence in the world order and human affairs. The great Lisbon earthquake struck on the festive morning of November 1, 1755 – on All Saints’ Day.