Culture, Religion and Demographic Behaviour: Catholics and Lutherans in Alsace, 1750-1870

This is an exploration of the contrasting population patterns of the Catholic and Lutheran communities of Alsace during a period of rapid economic change and political turmoil. In this book Kevin McQuillan demonstrates clearly the significance of religious identity in influencing the lives of ordinary people in the past. McQuillan proceeds from a careful analysis of demographic patterns using the technique of family reconstitution. The excellent quality of the underlying sources allows for a thorough discussion of marriage patterns, childbearing, and infant mortality. Throughout the book, other sources such as police files, administrative records, and church documents are used to discuss the influence of social and cultural factors on the demographic behaviour of the population.