[Thunderhawk]

That would be a Replica of a 2nd century Chinese seismometer.

This has made me wonder, did China have disaster relief historically? And if so, what kind?
What about other countries? Was it left to the locals, case by case, left to the provincial/state/Lord levels of government?

[quetzalcoatl]

As I understand it, generally they just died.

[Goldberk]

I think I remember from history in school than confucian China had earthquake and famine relief programs, one of the strengths of the state in those times was the emphasis it put on dealing with such emergencies.