Famine, Disease and the Social Order in Early Modern Society

by John Walter, Roger Schofield

Overview

Although Western societies cannot escape from images of famine in the present world, their direct experience with widespread hunger has receded into the past. England was one of the very first countries to escape from the shadow of famine and in this volume, a team of distinguished economic, social, and demographic historians analyze why. The contributors combine detailed local studies of individual communities, broader analyses of the impact of hunger and disease, and methodological discussions that explore the effect of crisis mortality on early modern societies. The essays examine the complex interrelationships among past demographic, social, and economic structures, and demonstrate that the impact of hunger and disease can provide a unique vehicle for an exploration of early modern society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521406130
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/26/1991
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Population, Economy and Society in Past Time , #10
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

List of figures; List of tables; Andrew Appleby: a personal appreciation Peter Laslett; A bibliography of Andrew B. Appleby's principal works in chronological order; List of abbreviations; 1. Famine, disease and crisis mortality in early modern society John Walter and Roger Schofield; 2. The social economy of death in early modern England John Walter; 3. Death in Whickham Keith Wrightson and David Levine; 4. The response to plague in early modern England: public policies and their consequences Paul Slack; 5. Demographic crises and subsistence crises in France 1650–1725 Jacques Dupaquier; 6. Markets and mortality in France, 1600–1789 David R. Weir; 7. Some reflections on corn yields and prices in pre-industrial economies E. A. Wrigley; 8. Family structure, demographic behaviour and economic growth Roger Schofield; Consolidated bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This volume is essential for any scholar or student in the field. Strongly recommended..." Choice

"...demographic historians and historical demographers will find much that is interesting here..." Mary Kilbourne Matossian, Journal of Economic History

From the Publisher