Description
Local structures and dynamics in the second half of the 18th century: The case of Vila-rodona
Book summary
This book offers a detailed analysis of life in Vila-rodona during the second half of the 18th century, based on a microhistorical perspective. The author, Josep Santesmases i Ollé, examines local structures and dynamics to provide an in-depth view of the daily lives of its inhabitants. The study, awarded the XIII Antoni Agustí Grant by the Tarragona Provincial Council, is based on the extraction of data from sacramental books to trace the demographic movement of the era. An essential work for anyone wishing to understand local history from a rigorous and intimate perspective.
What is it about?
The work focuses on the reconstruction of the social and demographic life of Vila-rodona throughout the second half of the 18th century. Through a microhistorical methodology, the author analyzes primary sources, such as sacramental books, to decipher population dynamics and the structures that shaped the community. The book not only addresses the numbers of births, marriages, and deaths, but contextualizes them within the economic and social framework of the period, offering a comprehensive vision of how the people of Vila-rodona lived and organized themselves during a time of change.
Main topics
- Microhistory and local analysis methodology.
- Demographic movement in the second half of the 18th century.
- Social structures and community dynamics in Vila-rodona.
- Study of primary sources: sacramental books.
- Historical context of 18th-century rural Catalonia.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is recommended for historians, history students, and researchers interested in microhistory and historical demography. It is also a valuable read for the inhabitants of Vila-rodona and the regions of Camp de Tarragona who wish to know their local past in depth. Finally, it is suitable for any reader passionate about social history and the dynamics of rural communities in the 18th century.
What this book contributes
- A detailed and documented vision of daily life in Vila-rodona in the 18th century.
- A practical example of how to apply microhistory to the study of a local community.
- Precise demographic data extracted from sacramental sources, analyzed with academic rigor.
- Understanding of the social structures that shaped pre-industrial rural Catalonia.
Technical specifications
- Author: SANTESMASES I OLLE, JOSEP
- Publisher: Cossetània Edicions
- Language: cat
- Subject: REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HISTORY, CONTEMPORARY HISTORY UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY: C. 1700-
- Collection: LA PLAÇA DELS ARBRES
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2017
- Number of pages: 320
- Weight: 791 g
Editorial review
This is a solid academic work that combines the rigor of historical research with an intimate approach to local reality. The study, awarded by the Tarragona Provincial Council, offers a sound documentary basis for understanding the demographic and social dynamics of a specific municipality, which makes it a reference for future microhistory studies in the region. An essential book for specialized libraries and for anyone seeking a detailed analysis of 18th-century Catalonia.