A risk society? Environmental hazards, risk and resilience in the later Middle Ages in Europe

Abstract

Modern society is said to have restructured in reaction to contemporary hazards with the aim of improving its management of risk. This implies that pre-industrial societies were somehow fundamentally different. In this paper, we challenge that hypothesis by examining the ways in which risks associated with environmental hazards were managed and mitigated during the Middle Ages (defined here as the period from 1000 to 1550 AD). Beginning with a review of the many case studies of rapid onset disasters across Europe, we draw upon both historical and archaeological evidence and architectural assessments of structural damage for what is a pre-instrumental period. Building upon this, the second part of the paper explores individual outlooks on risk, emphasising the diversity of popular belief and the central importance of Christianity in framing attitudes. Despite their religious perspectives, we find that medieval communities were not helpless in the face of serious environmental hazards. We argue instead that the response of society to these threats was frequently complex, considered and, at times, surprisingly modern.

Exploring representativeness and reliability for late medieval earthquakes in Europe

“…Furthermore, in a risk-sensitive society in which earthquakes occurred more frequently and measures of hazard adaptation and mitigation were better understood (e.g. structural assessments, financial relief, reconstruction) there was perhaps a greater propensity to evaluate and record in order to justify a civic or State response (Gerrard and Petley 2013). As an illustration of this, one of the best documented and most destructive seismic events in the Late Medieval Italy struck the southern Apennines and the Naples region in December 1456 with an estimated M w = 7 ± 0.30 and a maximum intensity I o = 11 (total destruction) (Meletti et al 1988).…”

The archaeology of earthquakes: The application of adaptive cycles to seismically-affected communities in late medieval Europe

“…Well before the construction of 'new towns' such as Noto Nuova or Ragusa in 17 th century Sicily (Tobriner 1980), badly damaged sites were abandoned completely and new towns built nearby. Vera la Vieja in Almeria was built from new after the old hilltop town was largely destroyed in 1518 (Gerrard and Petley 2013). Of the old town, only the chapel of the Holy Spirit survived the earthquake and this site was acknowledged as a place of pilgrimage by Pope Leon X, who declared a jubilee (remission of sins) in 1520 for all those who visited the miraculous church.…”

Built-in resilience through disaster risk reduction: operational issues

“…Indeed there are relevant lessons from previous European societies. Gerrard and Petley (2013) claim that evidence exists to support the view that European societies in the Middle Ages (1000-1550AD) were quite advanced in developing sophisticated measures (structural and non-structural) to cope with natural hazards such as floods and earthquakes. If this was the case, have modern (more urbanised) societies lost these capabilities to adapt?…”