1755--Lisbon Earthquake

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   In 1 November 1755, an earthquake epicentered in Western Atlantic Ocean had stormed all the Portugal's central and southern coastline. 

It had hit Lisbon,too...Around 80.000 people,one third of Lisbon's population, were killed due to this terrible earthquake,just in Lisbon, while more than eighty percent of all buildings were destroyed.

In addition to the earthquake's devastation, the huge tsunamis that were created by the earthquake and the fire coming after it completed the worst scene.

Royal palace, mansions,many historical buildings,basilicas,cathedrals,houses,beautiful Portugese architecture reflecting 16th century's unique Portuguese Manueline style, the royal library which included around 70.000 volumes,the splendid paintings of Renaissance artists,the tomb of Portuguese national hero Nuno Alvares Pereira, who had fought with Castille for Portuguese independence, and many others were lost after this earthquake and the fire erupting after it 

This event,which had taken place in a Catholic feast, All Saints' Day, had brought philosophical and religious discussions and ideas with it,as the Enlightenment Philosophers questioned whether that was a punishment of God..And the event was known to be affected famous thinkers like Voltaire and Kant

This tragic earthquake, which costed the world a part of a great culture and beautiful monuments to be lost,also affected Portugal's political situation. While royalty's and aristocracy's influence decreased, Marquis de Pombal,who was a son of squire came to the power as prime minister.

This also ended Portugal's colonial and expansional ambitions, and prevented the Portuguese state to emerge as a medium-sized formidable power in Europe and the world one more time after 15-16th century's glory and its annexation by Spain in 1580, among with its navy and merchant fleets being buried into sea in port of Lisboa by tsunamis.

As a final,this event had been a milestone in the science of seismology to be born as Marquis de Pombal had sent observers to different areas and searched for the consequences of the earthquake and the things happened during the quake,and collected data about it.

Edited by Kapikulu - 01-Jun-2006 at 12:59