The terrifying effects of earthquakes have made a deep impression upon the human mind, for from the earliest times we have had handed down the traditions of primitive peoples, which clearly are based upon earthquake phenomena. When, with the advance of civilization, the art of writing was developed, more accurate accounts of earthquakes were preserved. The oldest records of this kind are those from China and Japan, where earthquakes are frequent and severe. Other centres of ancient civilizations subject to strong earthquake shocks are those of the Mediterranean region, such as Italy, Greece and Palestine. In the latter country one of the greatest earthquakes occurred in the reign of King Uzziah, and is recorded in the Bible. The earthquake made such a profound impression on the Jews that for many years afterwards historic events were stated to have occurred so many years after the earthquake.
The University of Sydney acknowledges that its campuses and facilities sit on the ancestral lands of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have for thousands of generations exchanged knowledge for the benefit of all.
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