On a calm, peaceful morning in November 1755, the city of Lisbon (the vibrant and prosperous center of a vast and influential global empire) was suddenly brought to its knees by one of history's most catastrophic and transformative natural disasters.
Without warning, the bustling capital, celebrated across Europe for its spectacular wealth, flourishing culture, architectural splendor, and indispensable role in international commerce, was violently devastated by a sequence of relentless calamities. And it all started with a destructive earthquake that tore the city apart.
What followed were a series of catastrophes that plunged Portugal into profound economic ruin, crippled its global trade networks, severed critical colonial connections, and sparked widespread political turmoil and existential religious crises.
So, how did all of this happen? Click through this gallery to find out.