From Ruins to Resilience: Colonial Responses to Humanitarian Crises in the Atlantic

This month, I had the pleasure of presenting my book project at the “Conferência Cracoviana de Latinoamericanistas: Vulnerabilidade e Resiliência na América Latina.” It was an inspiring event that brought together scholars studying how societies confront crisis, adapt, and rebuild.

My presentation, "From Ruins to Resilience: Colonial Responses to Humanitarian Crises in the Atlantic," examines how the Portuguese Empire responded to both natural and social disasters in the eighteenth century. I begin with the devastating Lisbon earthquake of 1755, an event that was not only a local tragedy but also a catalyst for significant political and administrative change.

What fascinates me most is how this moment of destruction created new possibilities. Under the leadership of the Marquis of Pombal, Portugal implemented innovative strategies for reconstruction, crisis management, and social control. These measures did not remain confined to Lisbon – they spread across the Atlantic world, shaping colonial territories such as Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Santa Catarina.

In this project, I argue that disasters created “windows of opportunity.” They enabled modernization and reform but also exposed deep inequalities and tensions within colonial societies. At the same time, they highlight the resilience and adaptability of communities navigating these upheavals. Presenting this work in Kraków was a valuable experience – not only to share my research, but also to engage in conversations about vulnerability and resilience that resonate far beyond the eighteenth century.