Description
The historical origin of a single-heir system
Book summary
This study provides an in-depth analysis of the profound changes experienced by the family structure in pre-Pyrenean Navarre during the 16th and 17th centuries, focusing on the evolution of the "house" institution. The author, Ana Zabalza Seguín, unravels how the single-heir system—a model of property transmission that shaped the social and economic organization of the region—came to be. It is an essential work for understanding the historical roots of the traditional family and its legacy in the configuration of modern society.
What is it about?
The book examines the historical process that gave rise to the single-heir system in the rural setting of pre-Pyrenean Navarre. Through a rigorous documentary analysis, the author reconstructs how the institution of "the house"—understood as a patrimonial, social, and symbolic unit—consolidated between the 16th and 17th centuries. It addresses the transformation of family succession strategies, the role of kinship ties, and the influence of economic and legal factors in the formation of a model that prioritized the transmission of the entire estate to a single heir. The work offers a detailed view of the tensions, adaptations, and decisions that shaped family life in an era of change.
Main themes
- Historical evolution of the single-heir system in pre-Pyrenean Navarre.
- The institution of "the house" as the cornerstone of family and patrimonial organization.
- Succession strategies and asset transmission in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Kinship relations and their impact on rural social structure.
- Economic, legal, and cultural factors in the configuration of the traditional family model.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and scholars of family and kinship. It is also of great interest to researchers of rural history, succession law, and Navarrese institutions. Likewise, any reader curious about the historical roots of traditional family structures will find a deep and documented analysis in this work.
What this book contributes
- Detailed understanding of the origin and consolidation of the single-heir system in a specific historical context.
- Rigorous analysis based on documentary sources from the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Keys to interpreting the evolution of the family as a social and patrimonial institution.
- Interdisciplinary perspective connecting history, law, and anthropology.
- Contextualization of a family model that has influenced the social organization of large areas of Spain.
Technical data
- Author: Zabalza Seguín, Ana
- Publisher: Ediciones Rialp, S.A.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: FAMILY AND HEALTH
- Collection: INSTITUTE OF FAMILY SCIENCES
- Binding: Paperback
- Number of pages: 432
- Weight: 640 g
Editorial review
This is a reference work for those who wish to delve into the history of the family from an academic and rigorous perspective. The author combines the analysis of primary sources with a clear and well-structured exposition, which facilitates the understanding of a complex historical process. Her focus on the institution of "the house" and the single-heir system provides a unique and necessary vision for understanding the social dynamics of the Old Regime in northern Spain. A valuable book for both specialists and readers interested in the evolution of traditional family structures.