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Great Lisbon Earthquake

How an earthquake in 1755 flattened Lisbon and led to a revolution in European thought.

On All Saints Day 1755, the Portuguese city of Lisbon was hit by a triple disaster - an earthquake, followed by a tsunami and a fire.

One of the most splendid cities in Europe suffered massive damage and thousands of people were killed.

The disaster also led to debate across Europe about whether earthquakes were a natural phenomenon or a message from God.

Witness brings together accounts by British survivors of the earthquake, and hears from Edward Paice, author of Wrath of God - the Great Lisbon Earthquake.

Image: Lisbon before the earthquake (Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

Available now

10 minutes

Last on

Sat 19 Nov 2011 23:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 15 Nov 2011 13:50GMT
  • Tue 15 Nov 2011 22:50GMT
  • Sat 19 Nov 2011 23:50GMT

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