Demografía de Mélida (Navarra) en la Edad Moderna (siglos XVII-XVIII) a partir de los Archivos Parroquiales

Abstract

In the present paper, the demographic evolution in the 17th and 18th centuries of Mélida (Navarre) is analyzed from the study of the extant books at the parish archives. The most important demographic factors, namely nuptials, birth and mortality rates, are studied, and their parameters, as well as their relationship with socioeconomical factors, which are closely related to demography.

The analysis shows high birth rates for Mélida (over 40%o, and 3.4 to 3.8 children per woman), as well as mortality rates, especially infant mortality rates, close to 50%. Other aspects worth noticing are the early female nuptials, under 23 years of age, the scarce illegitimacy, the close relationship between marriage dates and  conceptions with the religious and work calendar, the...