1755 The Lisbon Earthquake TV - Niall Ferguson TV - Cliff Richard - Lord Byron -
70,917. The city of Lisbon 1st November 1755 – All Saints Day. One of the most important days in the Christian calendar. The date of one of the greatest disasters of modern times. Sixty thousand people will die in a single day. Scientists are still trying to pinpoint the source of that quake. Today the ocean threatens Europe with another huge disaster. An earthquake followed by a tsunami – the ultimate combination striking with the speed and power that astonishes even the experts. (Earthquake & Portugal & Tsunami & Disaster) 1755 The Lisbon Earthquake, Youtube 49.59
70,918. Three continental plates converge here. Seismically this is a very active area ... And Europe is especially vulnerable. (Earthquake & Portugal & Tsunami & Disaster) ibid.
70,919. In the city the houses start to shake. People described a trembling as if a heavy coach were driving by outside. They do nothing and lose valuable time, but no-one can know what these signs mean. There hasn’t been a serious earthquake for 150 years. Somewhere to the south-west two continental plates suddenly shift with explosive power. Within two minutes the shock-waves reach the capital. At 9.40 a.m. every church bell in the city begins to ring on its own. Then the sky falls in. (Earthquake & Portugal & Tsunami & Disaster) ibid.
70,920. The streets are no safer as walls collapse into the narrow alleyways … The earthquake will destroy three-quarters of the city’s buildings – 17,000 houses. (Earthquake & Portugal & Tsunami & Disaster) ibid.
70,921. The Tsunami suddenly rears up … 900 people perish instantly as the quayside is washed away by the waves. (Earthquake & Portugal & Tsunami & Disaster) ibid.
61,477. By 1506 the Portuguese had a near monopoly on shipping along the east African coast. (Civilisation & Portugal) Niall Ferguson, Civilisation: Is the West History? I Competition 2011
85,565. But Portugal has a peaceful feel about it. I sit on the terrace overlooking the vineyard there and I feel cut off from the world. You need that sort of thing. Cliff Richard
85,566. O Christ! it is a goodly sight to see
What Heaven hath done for this delicious land! Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage I:15