Campania and The Eruption Flashcards
Where was Herculaneum built and what did this cause?
Herculaneum was built on steep cliffe projected from Vesuvius, the view and breeze made it an ideal resort town.
Where was Pompeii built and what did this cause?
Pompeii was built on ancient lava spurs, overlooked Sarno River and Sea, caught breezes
What natural geographical benefits did Vesuvius grant?
- Volcanic material in soil created a spongey, phosphorus and potash rich soil
- Vines grew on slopes providing olives for perfum industry
- Fields allowing sheep to flock and food to grow, supporting textile industry
- Pumice and Tufa were used in olive presses and infastructure
How did Pliny describe Vesuvius?
“plant rich” with “superior grapes”
Where and when did the Greeks establish colonies on Pithecusae
Island of Ischia, 8th Century
When was initial Etruscan influence established?
7th century
How did the Greeks use Campania?
As a trading post, not a settlement
When did the Etruscans penetrate Campania?
650 BC
When were the Etruscans defeated and what did this cause?
474 BC, allows Greece to take control.
Who’s plan allowed for Greece to expand?
Hippodamus
What century of Roman expansion caused war against Samnites?
4th Century
When did Romans take control of Pompeii and Herculaneum?
300 BC
Provide three important quotes from Pliny The Youngers source?
- “cloud of unusual shape and size”
- “lighting up the sky”
- “darkness was blacker and thicker then any ordinary night”
Why cant Pliny’s letter be regarded as 100% fact?
- Written 25 years later
- Accounts taken from traumatised victims
- Missing important information
- Written to glorify Pliny the Elder
Provide 2 other sources towards the Eruption
- Cassius Dio, 150 years later “portentous crash was heard”, “day turned to night”
- Statius, same time, “I am eager to move you back”
Name the volcanologist who studied the AD79 eruption and how did he reconstruct it?
Haraldur Sigurdsson, used volcanic material and other pieces of evidence.
What two eruptions is this compared to?
- Mt St Helens (1980)
- Mt Pelee (1902, killed 28,000)
What happened in AD62?
-massive earthquakes, causing smaller treamours
List the early stages of eruption
-20th of October: series of small tremors, waves grew and animals became agitated
List the events that occured in the Plinian phase
10am: small explosions
1pm: Vesuvius eruopts in umbrella pine, white pumice falls in Stabaie
List the events that happen in the Pelean Phase
1am: S1 & S2 of pyroclastic flows bury Herculaneum
2: 15am to 6:50am: white pumice falls again, S3, S4, S5, S6 hit Pompeii, Herculaneum is buried.
List the numbers of Pompeii
800 houses found, Gluseppi Fiorelli estimated 12,000 dead, modern scholars estimate 6,500
List the numbers of Herculaneum
Estimate is rough as town is still buried, estimted 5000 based on theatre.
What happened to wooden objects and bread in the Herculaneum surges
Extreme temps and pressure of pyroclastic flows carbonised wooden objects and bread.
