Life, Death, and Migration in the Early Modern City

A methodologically innovative reconstruction of the demographic life of Würzburg around 1700 that uncovers the critical role of migrants.

In this rich study of the pre-industrial city in early modern Europe, Jan de Vries uses modern demographic techniques to reconstruct life in Würzburg between 1696–1711. He emphasises the critical role of migrants to the urban community, with wider implications for understanding urban historical demography across Germany and Europe.In this rich study of early modern Würzburg, Jan de Vries reconstructs the demographic life of a pre-industrial city. Utilising modern demographic techniques, he analyses data about thousands of families between 1696–1711 and examines every stage of the life course from infancy, leaving home, marriage and fertility, to widowhood, remarriage, and mortality. Close study of a single German city allows for special attention to be paid to differences of social class and migrant status, and de Vries emphasises the critical role of migrants to the make-up of the urban community. This new interpretation allows for the Sharlin theory and other questions concerning marriage choice, fertility control, and mortality risks to be tested. At every stage, de Vries compares the findings for Würzburg to those of other cities in Germany and Europe, developing existing generalisations, and contributing to a better understanding of urban historical demography.