Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines historical evidence from the last 2000 years to analyse earthquakes in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Early chapters review techniques of historical seismology, while the main body of the book comprises a catalogue of more than 4000 earthquakes identified from historical sources. Each event is supported by textual evidence extracted from primary sources and translated into English. Covering southern Rumania, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, the book documents past seismic events, places them in a broad tectonic framework, and provides essential information for those attempting to prepare for, and mitigate the effects of, future earthquakes and tsunamis in these countries. This volume is an indispensable reference for researchers studying the seismic history of the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, including archaeologists, historians, earth scientists, engineers and earthquake hazard analysts. A parametric catalogue of
Trade ReviewPraise for The Seismicity of Egypt, Arabia and the Red Sea (Cambridge University Press, 1994) co-authored by Professor Ambraseys: 'Once again the authors are to be congratulated on a painstaking piece of research that is now the starting point for anyone working on the seismicity of this region.' Martin Degg, Geoscientist
'Anyone with an interest in historical earthquakes will want this volume without hesitation; and rather a lot of seismologists, engineers and planners could learn from the introductory sections … Production values are excellent.' Roger Musson, Geoscientist
'It is a great relief to see this monumental work finally printed. Professor Ambraseys has towered over research into historical earthquakes for 50 years. … a level of scholarship that very few people can match. … Cambridge [University Press] should be congratulated for publishing this book … This book will never go out of demand … for libraries, researchers, consulting engineers and the insurance industry.' Geological Magazine
'Helpful is the 'earthquake of Amos', dated ca. 759 BCE (Amos 1:1), for which there seems to be solid archaeological evidence all over the place - from Tel Beersheva to Jerusalem, from Gezer and Shechem to Tell Deir Alia and Megiddo, all listed and documented by the author. One should consider the possibility of Amos's activity being somehow conditioned, if not occasioned, by a mighty earthquake that shook all of Palestine' International Review of Biblical Studies
Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Macroseismic information; 2. Evaluation of macroseismic data; 3. Catalogue of earthquakes; 4. Evaluation of instrumental data; 5. Long-term seismicity; 6. Future challenges; Appendix: Photographs of researchers in the field; References; Index.
