Footsteps of the Messiah, Chap 4, p96
Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
The earthquake factor is even more interesting. According to the Encyclopedia Americana, between the years 63-1896 A.D. there were only twenty-six recorded earthquakes. Most of the world’s earthquakes began to occur since 1900 (per USGS Natl Earthquake Information Center. Earthquakes with 1,000 or more deaths from 1900.) (http:neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/eqsmajr.html. 12May2000)
More recent web lists form USGS record some 80 quakes from 856AD to 1896, and some 432 major quakes for the 20th century, while in the first decade alone over 432 major quakes over 6.0 have been recorded (this tally is not consistent though, as some of those in the 20th century 432 tally are less than 3.0 located in remote areas or are aftershocks, while frequently over 100 quakes are recorded daily in the same range in the early 21st century. see http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical.php)
One article from the “Dispatch from Jerusalem”, 3rdQtr, 1992, p.11 referenced in Footsteps of the Messiah provides a greater number in middle centuries as recorded:
“In the first 1000 years after Jesus, there were approxiamately 5 recorded major earthquakes (although we are sure more occurred in remote locations). However, the trend has been on the increase:
14th century, there were 157 major earthquakes.
15th century, there were 174 major earthquakes.
16th century, there were 253 major earthquakes.
17th century, there were 278 major earthquakes.
18th century, there were 640 major earthquakes.
19th century, there were 2119 major earthquakes.
Nearly 900,000 earthquakes have been recorded thus so far in the 20th century. An earthquake every hour!”
The trend does appear to be undeniably increasing with respect to the impact of earthquakes upon humanity.
For starters, the key word in your first paragraph is “recorded”: by whom? what was/were the basis/bases for observation and measurement? Where were the measurement stations? How did people define an earthquake?
Dispatch From Jerusalem is hardly a credible source.