Page "Murcia" Paragraph 20

Murcia lost then its prosperity but flourished again in the 18th century, benefiting greatly from a boom in the silk industry.

Many of the modern city's landmark churches and monuments date from this period of nascent mercantilism.

However, this was to be followed by nearly a century of mishap.

In 1810, Murcia was looted by Napoleonic troops ; it then suffered a major earthquake in 1829.

According to contemporaneous accounts, an estimated 6, 000 people died from the disaster's effects across the province.

Plague and cholera followed.