The 1638 earthquakes, migratory phenomena and geolinguistic consequences in Calabria

Abstract

Two disastrous earthquakes occurred in Calabria (Southern Italy) in 1638: on March 27th the first one had a destructive damage area on the Tyrrheniail side of Mid-Calabria. the second one hit the east side of the same region on June 9th. In historical times they are the most intensive seismic events in their respective epicentral areas. so that the reconstruction of their effects is very important for the analysis and assessment of seismic risk. They strongly influenced, moreover, the development of the economy and socio-cultural status of many urban communities. A study of these shocks has been carried out and has implied a thorough re-evaluation of the historical sources of information already known and the exploitation of possible new sources. The two macroseismic fields have been reconstructed: in particular that of the second seismic event, the strongest one in its epicentral area. stimulates a thorough revision of the seismotectonics of the Middle-eastern Calabria. Moreover the reconstruction of the historical facts accompanying and following the earthquakes has furnished elements that help to explain observed anomalies in the spatial distribution of Calabrian dialect phenomena.