SOCIETY & Demographics in 18th Century Europe [AP Euro Review—Unit 4 Topic 4]

Summary

In the 18th century, Europe's population soared due to a decline in the death rate, thanks to improvements in diet, food storage, and the end of the Bubonic Plague. The Agricultural Revolution increased crop yields and led to the commercialization of farming, although many small farmers were displaced. While birth rates were lower due to birth control and fewer marriages, the population still grew due to longer life expectancy. As rural workers moved to cities, urbanization led to overcrowded tenements, poor sanitation, and social issues like crime. Enlightenment thinkers also changed societal views on childhood, promoting education and nurturing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The European population grew significantly in the 18th century, rising from 140 million in 1750 to 190 million by the end of the century.
• 😀 The primary cause of this population increase was a decline in the death rate, which was influenced by better food availability, improved transportation, and the disappearance of the Bubonic plague.
• 😀 Food production was greatly enhanced by the Colombian Exchange, which brought new crops like potatoes and maize to Europe, increasing the food supply and supporting population growth.
• 😀 Improvements in agricultural infrastructure, such as better roads and canals, also helped distribute food more efficiently, leading to longer life expectancies.
• 😀 Birth rates did not rise significantly during this period; in fact, birth control methods and delayed marriage among the upper classes helped limit family sizes.
• 😀 In the 18th century, family sizes in Europe were generally smaller, with the upper classes averaging two children, while the working class often had larger families to contribute to the family's survival.
• 😀 The Agricultural Revolution led to innovations like crop rotation with nitrogen-rich plants like clover, boosting food production and increasing livestock farming.
• 😀 The Enclosure Acts in England and the rise of large-scale commercial farming displaced smaller farmers, consolidating land into fewer, larger farms.
• 😀 Jean-Jacques Rousseau's ideas on childhood and education, particularly in his work 'Emile,' shifted societal attitudes, with the upper classes increasingly viewing childhood as a distinct phase requiring nurturing and education.
• 😀 Urbanization increased as fewer agricultural workers were needed due to technological advancements, leading to a mass migration to cities. However, this caused overcrowding and poor living conditions in urban areas.
• 😀 Cities in the 18th century faced significant challenges, including unsanitary living conditions in tenement housing, the spread of diseases like tuberculosis, and social issues like crime and prostitution, prompting the introduction of laws like the Vagrancy Act of 1822.

Q & A

What was the main cause of Europe's population growth in the 18th century?

The main cause of population growth was a significant decline in the death rate, driven by better food supply, improved transport, and the disappearance of the Bubonic Plague.

How did the Colombian Exchange contribute to Europe's population growth?

The Colombian Exchange improved European diets by introducing new foods, which led to a more varied and abundant food supply, helping people live longer.

What role did food transportation play in the population increase?

Improved infrastructure, such as better roads and canals, allowed food to be transported more efficiently, ensuring a more consistent and widespread food supply across Europe.

How did the Agricultural Revolution contribute to population growth?

The Agricultural Revolution increased food production through new farming techniques, better crop yields, and the use of nitrogen-rich crops like clover, which led to a surplus of food for the growing population.

Why was the Bubonic Plague significant in this period?

The Bubonic Plague, which had been a major cause of death in Europe, largely disappeared after the last major outbreak in 1720, allowing populations to grow without the threat of frequent epidemics.

What was the impact of birth control on population growth in the 18th century?

In places like Britain and France, birth control methods helped limit the number of children, particularly among the upper classes, which slowed the overall population growth despite longer life expectancy.

What were the effects of illegitimate births on the population?

Illegitimate births increased during this period, but they were not enough to offset the decline in birth rates due to the use of birth control among the upper classes.

How did societal views on childhood change in the 18th century?

Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau influenced the view of childhood as a distinct developmental phase, emphasizing the importance of education and nurturing, especially for the upper classes.

What were the social and economic roles of children in working-class families during the 18th century?

In working-class families, children contributed to family economies, working alongside their parents on farms, in cottage industries, or at their parents' trade, in contrast to the upper classes where childhood was seen as a time for education.

What challenges did cities face due to urbanization in the 18th century?

Cities faced overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate housing for the influx of rural migrants, leading to the construction of unsanitary tenements and the spread of diseases like tuberculosis.