While NMW typically posts these threads, we want to start spreading the responsibility around the mod team a little more. I’ve volunteered to do the Tuesday Trivia for today.

Previously:

• (In)famous non-military attacks
• Stupidest theories/beliefs about your field of interest
• Most unusual deaths
• Famous adventurers and explorers
• Great non-military heroes
• History's great underdogs
• Interesting historical documents

I think you know the drill by now: in this moderation-relaxed thread, anyone can post whatever anecdotes, questions, or speculations they like (provided a modicum of serious and useful intent is still maintained), so long as it has something to do with the subject being proposed. We get a lot of these "best/most interesting X" threads in /r/askhistorians, and having a formal one each week both reduces the clutter and gives everyone an outlet for the format that's apparently so popular.

Today:

Natural disasters have a way of bringing terrible grief, but, at the same time, a temporary sense of international unity. Recently, disasters have incited giant charity drives and lots of worldwide involvement. What are some significant, less-known natural disasters that occurred during pre-modernity? Why did people think disasters happened? How were they dealt with?

In the realm of disasters we include volcanoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, large-scale fires, asteroid impact, wide-scale drought, giant dust-storms, etc.

Anything interesting?