S0613 Urban demography: economic, social, and cultural determinants of Demoghaphic Behaviour in 19th century Venice

In Malthusian view, population processes were largely beyond human control. Before the demographic transition, mortality was mostly an exogenous variable; no family planning regulated marital fertility; access to and/or timing of marriage were only subject to macroeconomic constraints. Recent studies have challenged such a point of view, as based on simplistic and unrealistic assumptions. Using new sources and new methods of analysis, these studies have argued that human agency played a relevant role in the demographic behaviour of pre-transitional populations, and showed that a large array of economic, social, cultural factors at the individual, household and community levels concurred in determining strong differentials in demographic outcomes.\r\n

The purpose of the course is twofold. From a substantive point of view, it aims to provide an overview of the most recent achievements of historical demography, contrasting them with the previous literature in the same field. From a methodological point of view, students will be introduced to the main concepts and principles of statistical testing of hypotheses in the social sciences. These concern mostly the methods of longitudinal micro-analysis and the construction and implementation of hazard models of demographic behaviour. Both the substantive and the methodological issues will be dealt with at an appropriate level of simplicity. Students are not expected to be skilled in statistics nor in demography.

\r\n

Learning Outcomes
Students will, with reasonable diligence, become familiar with the main topics and questions of historical demography; be able to evaluate critically the different methods and approaches to the description and explanation of demographic behaviour; become aware of the complexity of factors determining population processes; understand the basic procedures of statistical testing of hypotheses in the social sciences.
Transferable skills: ability to assess critically evidence; to digest and understand different approaches to history and social sciences; oral presentation; succinct and well-structured written composition; inter-personal communication; time-management; self-directed study.

\r\nCourse Overview
The course is designed as a combination of lecture and class discussion. Lectures are intended to provide a basic foundation in demographic and methodological issues and concepts. Assigned readings give the student an opportunity to know classic works in historical demography, to explore particular issues in more detail, and also to present specific case studies where topics and concepts are discussed in an applied setting. Readings are intended to complement lecture and provide discussion material for class. They are not designed to replace the information presented during lecture.