In 1346, a violent earthquake hit the island of Chios and the Aegean coast, severely damaging Byzantine fortifications and urban centers. This disaster had lasting effects on the region's architecture and defense strategies, as communities struggled to rebuild in the aftermath. The Great Earthquake of Chios served as a reminder of the geological vulnerabilities faced by coastal cities, influencing future construction practices and disaster response measures.

The Great Earthquake of Chios heightened apocalyptic themes in late-Byzantine literature, influencing poets to explore existential dread and societal collapse. This literary obsession found expression in regional verse that reflected the anxieties of the time.