From the Eleventh to the Seventeenth Century, the history of Europe can be analyzed in terms of the population, which swung widely about the trend line. This affected the agricultural practices, the movements from land to the cities, the movements in and out of specific regions, and the inheritance practices. Movements from the land into the cities and other areas occurred during peak population periods. When the population was down, there were fewer incentives to improve agriculture. Also, at these times there was a tendency to divide the holdings among the heirs. There was less pressure to emigrate or move to the cities.
At the end of the Thirty Years' War, in 1648, the population was drastically lowered in southwest Germany. With surplus resources in the region, in-migration occurred. Still, there was enough land that a certain laxity in the agriculture practices could be tolerated. There was little reason to hold back on the division of one's estate among all of the heirs. With the brighter outlook for making a living, people had larger families. There was some improvement in vital statistics in terms of fewer deaths and more births. The population rapidly grew. In the Eighteenth Century, there was a growth of 70% from 1720 to 1800. This reversed the conditions from the late 1600's and the land became overcrowded. This was a contributing factor to out-migration. This was not a new process; significant numbers of western Europeans moved to eastern Europe under similar conditions, even as early as the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. When one talked about leaving Western Europe, the natural thought was that it would be to the East.
At the end of the Thirty Years' War, much of Europe was holding its earlier population levels. In southwest Germany, the cycle of decline and rebirth was at a low point in population. Many people moved in from as far away as Switzerland and Austria. Though the deaths attributed to the war relieved the population pressures, the movements of people into the region after the war helped rebuild the economy. Along the Rhine River, progress was erratic because of the French invasions late in the century.
During this expansionary phase, the inhabitants could farm large tracts, have large families, and divide the farm among the children. The high rate of natural increase with the addition emigrants led quickly to over-population and with that came many problems. Primarily, the standard of living for any one individual fell. Even as this was occurring, the peasants held to their usual practices of dividing the land among the children. Land holdings became too small to support a family, even though some of the newer agricultural practices were being used.
Within the ruling circles, there was some recognition of what was happening. At the same time the rulers believed that their wealth was dependent on the number of people. By 1724, though, the government of Baden-Durlach forbid immigration into the realm. They could see that they had too many people.
(30 May 03)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.