Prudence and Pressure: Reproduction and Human Agency in Europe and Asia, 1700-1900

This paper summarizes the arguments and major findings from the volume Prudence and Pressure: Reproduction and Human Agency in Europe and Asia, 1700−1900, published in 2010 by MIT Press. The book is a systematic and truly comparative examination of human reproduction and social organization in preindustrial communities from both ends of the Eurasian landmass. In contrast with previous studies of historical fertility that focused primarily on European experiences, the volume seeks to develop an Eurasian perspective.

Using individual-level longitudinal data drawn from household registers in populations from 5 countries/regions in preindustrial Europe and East Asia, and employing techniques of event-history analysis, our study uncovers the dynamic mechanisms of reproductive behavior under changing household and local economic circumstance. Our study finds that reproductive behavior and rationales were remarkably similar, despite many differences between the East and the West. Hence, we refute the previously held characterization that “prudence,” fewer children due to late marriage, was more characteristic of reproduction in the preindustrial West while “pressure,” high mortality (especially infant mortality/infanticide) due to over-population, was more prevalent in the East.