Vesuvius, Pompei, Herculaneum: a lesson of natural history

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius of 79 AD destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, but preserved them from the deterioration of time. A large patrimony of knowledge was obtained with the development of new techniques of archeological excavation, which began in these areas in 1700. At the same time, the persistent activity of the volcano stimulated the birth of modern volcanology with the building, in 1841, of the first volcanological observatory in the world. The effects of the different volcanic phenomena during the eruption of 79 AD permitted also to investigate the causes of death during an explosive eruption. Overall the volcano and its activity have stimulated the advancement of different branches of human knowledge and the preservation of a cultural patrimony unrivaled in the world. These information can be used to develop interdisciplinary project in schools aimed at better understanding the nature of volcanic hazard.