La démographie des villes de Romagne dans les temps modernes

From the first third of the XVI century onwards the links between Romagne and the poor pontifical State led to a progressive economic decline which reflected on the urban demography of a country whose towns remained almost unchanging. Studies of baptisms show phases of increase and decrease separated by intervals of twenty five to thirty years. Ravenne permits us to emphasize the decisive role of the surrounding villages when considering the demographic deficit. Such a deficit is explained by the below average level of death which they exhibit. The study underlines the difficulties brought about by the traditional opposition between a rural and an urban undifferentiated plan. It is indispensable to simplify the analysis.From the first third of the XVI century onwards the links between Romagne and the poor pontifical State led to a progressive economic decline which reflected on the urban demography of a country whose towns remained almost unchanging. Studies of baptisms show phases of increase and decrease separated by intervals of twenty five to thirty years. Ravenne permits us to emphasize the decisive role of the surrounding villages when considering the demographic deficit. Such a deficit is explained by the below average level of death which they exhibit. The study underlines the difficulties brought about by the traditional opposition between a rural and an urban undifferentiated plan. It is indispensable to simplify the analysis.Bolognesi D. La démographie des villes de Romagne dans les temps modernes. In: Annales de démographie historique, 1982. Villes du passé. pp. 111-125