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Earthquakes in Human History
The Far-Reaching Effects of Seismic Disruptions
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Tells the story of various epic earthquakes. This book explains the geological processes responsible for earthquakes, and they describe how these events have had long-lasting aftereffects on human societies and cultures. It includes quotations from literature and from later reports.
Earthquakes in Human History moves through the centuries and across the continents to show how earthquakes have shaped different societies. With a cast of characters that includes God and his ever-feared wrath, Cleopatra, Voltaire, Mark Twain, and the Sandinistas, it is an engaging and at times thrilling tale. I am confident that it will accomplish the authors' goal of nudging scientists to recognize the social and cultural impact of the geosciences and encouraging historians and others to explore scientific explanations for natural disasters. -- Charles Walker, University of California, Davis Zeilinga de Boer and Sanders have provided us with evidence that natural phenomena, in this case earthquakes, can sometimes have long-term historical consequences in changing the fate of cultures. With examples ranging from biblical to modern times, they show how destructive earthquakes have interacted with wars, religious beliefs, and political movements in changing history. Each account is preceded by a generally accessible account of the geological processes that led to the fateful earthquake. A fascinating read and an antidote to the usual anthropocentric views of history such as that of Arnold Toynbee. -- Christopher H. Scholz, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
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Description
On November 1, 1755—All Saints' Day—a massive earthquake struck Europe's Iberian Peninsula and destroyed the city of Lisbon. Churches collapsed upon thousands of worshippers celebrating the holy day.
Earthquakes in Human History tells the story of that calamity and other epic earthquakes. The authors, Jelle Zeilinga de Boer and Donald Theodore Sanders, recapture the power of their previous book, Volcanoes in Human History. They vividly explain the geological processes responsible for earthquakes, and they describe how these events have had long-lasting aftereffects on human societies and cultures.
Their accounts are enlivened with quotations from contemporary literature and from later reports. In the chaos following the Lisbon quake, government and church leaders vied for control. The Marques de Pombal rose to power and became a virtual dictator. As a result, the Roman Catholic Jesuit Order lost much of its influence in Portugal.
Voltaire wrote his satirical work Candide to refute the philosophy of "optimism," the belief that God had created a perfect world. And the 1755 earthquake sparked the search for a scientific understanding of natural disasters.
Ranging from an examination of temblors mentioned in the Bible, to a richly detailed account of the 1906 catastrophe in San Francisco, to Japan's Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, to the Peruvian earthquake in 1970 (the Western Hemisphere's greatest natural disaster), this book is an unequaled testament to a natural phenomenon that can be not only terrifying but also threatening to humankind's fragile existence, always at risk because of destructive powers beyond our control.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Reviews highlight Earthquakes in Human History as an insightful exploration of the cultural and historical impact of earthquakes. The book is praised for its engaging storytelling, blending science with history, and its clear presentation of complex geological concepts. Reviewers appreciate its ability to vividly recount historical events and demonstrate how seismic activity has shaped societies over time.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691127866
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 22 January 2007
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Illustration: 39 halftones. 5 line illus. 2 tables.
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 425g
Pages: 304
About the Author
Jelle Zeilinga de Boer and Donald Theodore Sanders are the authors of Volcanoes in Human History. Zeilinga de Boer is the Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Science at Wesleyan University. Sanders, a Wesleyan graduate and former geologist, is an independent science editor and writer.
Also by Donald Theodore Sanders
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Volcanoes in Human History
When the volcano Tambora erupted in Indonesia in 1815, as many as one hundred thousand people perished from the blast and ensuing famine. Gases and dust particles ejected into the atmosphere changed weather patterns around the world, resulting in the infamous 'year without a summer' in North America, food riots in Europe, and a widespread cholera epidemic. And the gloomy...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
Also by Jelle Zeilinga de Boer
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Volcanoes in Human History
When the volcano Tambora erupted in Indonesia in 1815, as many as one hundred thousand people perished from the blast and ensuing famine. Gases and dust particles ejected into the atmosphere changed weather patterns around the world, resulting in the infamous 'year without a summer' in North America, food riots in Europe, and a widespread cholera epidemic. And the gloomy...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
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