The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) caused numerous alterations in the demographic structures due to the crises that went hand in hand with it. An example of this is reflected in the number of baptisms. During the most critical period of the war in Albacete (1706-1707) we see how baptisms (and therefore births) fell considerably due to the battles that took place in the province (such as the Battle of Almansa in 1707). Recruitment, resulting in the absence of men who were at the front or mobilised, led to an absence of pregnancies. The same can be observed for that year in Cuenca, Chinchilla and San Clemente, with an average decrease of 20%. On many occasions, skirmishes caused the loss of harvests; on other occasions, food resources were destined to the maintenance of the troops to the detriment of the market in the towns, with consumption being reduced and family possibilities of reproduction and subsistence diminished. Between 1708 and 1711 there was also a general decline, this time caused by the national crisis of war. The areas of Albacete and Chinchilla were more sensitive than those of Cuenca as they were more affected; the Spanish countryside needed a few years to recover and to be able to provide sufficient food for families.
Collection: Graphics
Project: 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity., 4. Family, daily life and social inequality in Europe.
Chronology: XVII, XVIII
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Link: https://adeh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ADEH-2020-1-Victor-Alberto-Garcia-Heras.pdf
Resource type: Graph
Format: Line chart
Source: García Heras, Víctor Alberto. (2020). “Crisis poblacional: Escasez, conflicto y mortalidad. La guerra de Sucesión en Cuenca”, en Revista de Demografía Histórica, vol. 38, nº 1, p. 23.
Language: Spanish
Date: 2020
Owner: Pablo Ballesta Fernández (Modernalia)
Copyright: © Víctor Alberto García Heras © Revista de Demografía Histórica
Abstract: Impact of the War of Succession on the demographic level in Albacete and Cuenca; creating crises linked to the war and the consequent decrease in births.
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