|
Organizers |
Natural Catastrophic Events, Historical Records and the Development of Scientific Knowledge
by
Ezio Vaccari
Universita' degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese
The interaction between historical and scientific research in the study of natural catastrophic events of the past is a necessary tool in order to understand and evaluate their social and economic impacts.
In recent years, historians with different backgrounds and expertise have collaborated in particular with geophysicists and vulcanologists for compiling catalogues of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Also the historical recurrences of floods or landslides have been investigated in some areas and these may offer useful data for the evaluation of possible future hazards.
On the other hand, during the historical research initially focused on the collection of data for confirming and often increasing the number and the extent of natural catastrophic events, several pieces of information regarding the reactions of the affected population, as well as on the social, economic and political changes caused by the consequences of the event itself may be found in the primary sources. These complex historical records should not be undervalued, but instead analysed and compared with the interpretation of the phenomenon given by the scientists who were living, for example, at the time of a certain earthquake or volcanic eruption.
The problem of the communication between the scientific community and the possible victims of the catastrophic event, in order to suggest and establish plans or strategies, can be evaluated with the help of historians of specific scientific disciplines, such as the Earth sciences. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of such `interdisciplinary teamwork', by presenting some case studies which have involved scientists and historians.
Date received: July 22, 2005
Copyright © 2005 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # caqy-59.