Demographic aspects of the Greek household: The case of Preveza (18th century)

Abstract

The demography of the Greek household is investigated within the context of the town of Preveza. The size, age, and sex composition and structure of the household are also considered. Two detailed censuses of the town are used: the first carried out in 1719, and the second, around 1780. The mean household size has been calculated: 4.24 for 1719 and 4.36 for c. 1780. Analysis of the data shows a clear predominance of males, particularly among the young, and of simple family households. Results presented here need to be seen in the light of other regions of Greece, since few studies yet exist.

Keywords:

• Demography
• Greek household
• Preveza

Notes

1 About Ottoman censuses, see Balta, 1989, 1992; Behar, 1996; Barkan, 1964, pp. 2–118; Inalcık, 1985; Karal, 1997; Karpat, 1985; Karydis, 1993; Karydis & Kiel, 1985; Todorov & Velkov, 1988.

2 General State Archive of Greece/Local Archives of Lefkada, Illustrissimo et Eccelentissimo Sig(no)r Proveditor di Prevesa, Libro Diversorum, Dal 8 Ottobre 1719 al 12 Novembre 1720, f. 9^v–12^v; and Reggimento N.H. Provveditor di Prevesa, Filza Diversa dal 28 giugno 1771 al 13 Dicembre 1779, N° 7 (Gennaro 1777–28 X^mbre 1777), f. 1^v–26^v; cf. Komis, 1999b, pp. 261–268, 289–362.

3 Concerning other studies about male predominance in the past, see Asdrahas, 1978, pp. 294–297; Kaftantzoglou, 1997, pp. 160–165; Komis, 1995, pp. 137–140; 1999a, p. 129–130, 311–314, 318; Panagiotopoulos, 1985, pp. 29, 198–201; Spanakis, 1989, pp. 115, 118, 127; Todorova, 1993, pp. 21–23.

4 The phenomenon of migration of working men becomes clear when data allow comparisons between urban and rural populations (Spanakis, 1989, p. 118). See also Asdrahas (1978, pp. 294–297), Duben (1996, p. 188), and Todorova (1993, p. 21). On male predominance because of early marriage of females outside the community, see Kaftantzoglou (1997, pp. 163–164).

5 The corresponding limits for the female population were ages 15 and 49, respectively, the general range of the reproductive period in a woman's life. It is indicative that in 17th-century France women over the age of 43 were considered old (cf. Goubert, 1968, pp. 55–56; Tsaousis, 1984, p. 50).

6 In this case, there were just three immigrant households. One of them, headed by Sacromonaco Nichifforo Assichi, hegumen of the monastery of Zalongou from the island of Lefkada, was comprised of seven adult males (monks). Since the total population of this parish (Agiou Nikolaou Neou) was relatively small, the percentage figure was somewhat inflated.