The Lisbon Rebuilding: Portugal's Grid City Revolution

In 1755, a devastating earthquake and tsunami leveled Lisbon, but from the rubble rose a vision of modernity. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Marquês de Pombal's radical rebuilding plan—the Baixa Pombalina. They uncover how Portugal, led by its formidable prime minister, imposed a grid of wide, symmetrical streets, complete with early seismic engineering like the 'Pombaline cage' wooden frames. The conversation delves into the social upheaval: the relocation of the poor to outlying districts like Alcântara, the destruction of the Jewish quarter and its displacement to the new, regulated Rua da Prata. They also reflect on how the earthquake reshaped Portuguese thought, challenging religious fatalism and paving the way for Enlightenment ideals. A forgotten figure appears: the architect Eugénio dos Santos, whose daring plans were realized despite immense opposition. This episode reveals how Lisbon's downtown became a laboratory for urbanism, influencing later reconstructions from London to San Francisco. #LisbonEarthquake #MarquSDePombal #BaixaPombalina #SeismicEngineering #UrbanPlanning #Enlightenment #PortugalHistory #AlcNtara #RuaDaPrata #EugNioDosSantos #PombalineCage #1755Earthquake #Tsunami #GridCity #History #FexingoHistory #PortugalEmpire #18thCentury #Portugal #PortugueseEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo