Some Catastrophes: The Ruins Of Pompeya

0 / 5. 0

Some catastrophes: the ruins of Pompeya

Introduction

Natural catastrophes are inevitable phenomena that mark the course of history. They are demonstrations of the power that nature and real evidence of the fragility of the human being against them. Earth is a planet that has existed for millions of years. It lies the human species, one of its most recent tenants. And many have been the catastrophes that have affected him. Up to five natural catastrophes have been established that produced a mass extinction. The last and best known is the extinction of dinosaurs.

In this article, we want to expose some of these natural catastrophes that marked the course of the history of planet Earth and, especially, of humanity. Lets start by the beginning. Join us!

Developing

You have to go back 66 million years to talk about the catastrophe that favored the extinction of dinosaurs. The end of the Cretaceous era gave way to Cenozoic, the geological era in which mammals could develop and, consequently, human beings exist. There are several theories about what happened so that up to 76% of the land fauna would be extinguished.

The most accepted is the hypothesis of an asteroid collision. This object, whose impact had to create a crater between 150 and 200 kilometers in diameter, according to scientists. Collided in what today is the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

The hit released an energy millions of times greater than that released by the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The result of this was a set of chain effects that favored the fifth mass extinction that the earth suffered:

  • Generalized fires.
  • Liberation of toxic gases.
  • Acid rain.
  • Dust particles that hindered the entrance of the sun’s rays.
  • Earthquakes and tsunamis with waves of more than 150 meters.
  • The extinction of the great saurios allowed other animals that did survive to acquire greater prominence and could develop with more freedom. Mammals are an example of it.
  • Eruption in Sumatra, one of the great natural catastrophes
  • Lake Toba, fruit of one of the great catastrophes of the planet
  • Lake Toba

 

About 75,000 years ago, a Supervolcán exploded on the current island of Sumatra. This explosion resulted in the formation of the larger volcanic lake on the planet, Lake Toba. The eruption of the volcano, according to some theorists, had devastating consequences for hominids. Scientific studies have affirmed that they were about to extinction. Other thesis denies it, since there are no evidence that other animals were extinguished or reduced by their population significantly at that time.

Despite the scientific discussions about the effects of this eruption in the human species, the effects that the explosion had on the environment are widely accepted. A volcanic winter affected the planet. The decrease in the global temperature between 3º to 5º C and, up to 15º C in high latitudes, caused a drastic change in the environment. This modification of the habitat could greatly affect the development of hominids.

  • Explosion of Thera Island, maybe Atlantis?
  • Santorini Red Beach
  • Red Beach in Santorini

 

Around 1500 to.C., According to archaeological data, there was a volcanic explosion on the island of Thera, also known as Santorini. The eruption, one of the most known magnitude in the last thousand years, eject a large amount of hot material. The island buried between six and 60 meters with volcanic pump, pumice and ash. This event was followed by various tsunamis whose waves broke in many of the eastern Mediterranean ports.

Minoic civilization was the main affected by catastrophe. The end of this civilization occurred a few years after the eruption. There is no evidence that their sunset was a direct cause of this explosion, but, according to archaeologists, it is very likely that, after the explosion, the Minoans would enter a civilizational collapse that was used by the Mycenaean to conquer them. On the other hand, there are speculation that the myth of Atlantis, mentioned by Plato, was founded on the eruption of this island.

  • THE VESUBIUM: The destruction of Pompeii and Herculano
  • Pompeya ruins in Italy after one of the great catastrophes
  • Pompeii

 

Probably, the best known catastrophic episode of humanity is the eruption of Vesubio and the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculano. In 79 D.C. The residents of two cities were surprised by the eruption of this volcano. Quickly, they were wrapped by clouds of toxic gases, ash and pumice stone. Many people died from the inhalation of gases. Others were buried by ash and pumice stone that fell on their shelters.

This tragic episode was a source of enormous wealth for the historical research of Roman culture. The paralysis of a city that was alive has allowed archaeologists to approach the daily life of some people who left everything they were doing to take refuge and flee from the volcanic threat.

  • Natural catastrophes: Lisbon destruction
  • Lisbon earthquake illustration
  • Lisbon earthquake illustration

 

The morning of November 1, 1755 a catastrophe was coming over Lisbon that destroyed practically the entire city. Somewhere from the Atlantic, about 300 kilometers from the Portuguese city, there was a seismic movement that made the city tremble. Subsequently, a tsunami took everything that had stood up in front. The places that escaped from the onslaught of the gigantic wave, were quickly devoured by the flames of the numerous fires that occurred.

The day of all the saints of that fateful 1755 recorded how vulnerable we are before these natural phenomena. That is why, to prevent future episodes, the phenomenon began scientifically, laying the foundations of modern seismology. The earthquake was felt in much of the Iberian Peninsula, although the negative effects were not as great as in Lisbon. The Marquis de Pombal, Prime Minister of King José I, took the reins of the situation and quickly undertook the tasks of collection of debris and reconstruction of the city.

  • The myth of the universal flood
  • Illustration of the Universal Flood

 

Finally, we will refer to the myth of the universal flood. This is a story that is present in many cultures around the planet:

  • Judeochristian
  • Mesopotamian cultures
  • The Islam
  • Hindu culture
  • Chinese culture

Different American cultures: the Inca, the chibcha, the Mapuche, the Mayan, the Mexica, the Guaraní, etc.

conclusion

Scientists have ruled out the existence of a phenomenon that produced a rise in the waters of such magnitude that affected the entire earth. Natural catastrophes have great imprint in collective memory and flood.

As we have seen, the history of the earth is full of natural catastrophes that, to a greater or lesser extent, affected the different life forms that existed on the planet. We should keep it in mind and be aware that Earth’s balance is very fragile. The care of our house is something that is in our hands.

Free Some Catastrophes: The Ruins Of Pompeya Essay Sample

Related samples

Zika virus: Transmission form Introduction The Zika virus belongs to the Flaviviradae family, was found for the first time in a monkey called Rhesus febrile and in...

Zika virus: cases and prevention Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Zika is a virus caused through the mosquito bite which is...

Zeus The King of Greek mythology Introduction Zeus is the Olympic God of heaven and thunder, the king of all other gods and men and, consequently, the main figure...

Zeus's punishment to Prometheus Introduction Prometheus, punished by Zeus Prometheus, punished by Zeus. Prometheus is a ‘cousin’ of Zeus. He is the son of the...

Comments

Leave feedback

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *