Famine and Shortage in the Middle Lika in the Second Halfof the 18th and First Half of the 19th Century – Analysisof Demographic Indicators from Church Registry Books

Abstract

The history of Lika, as well as the other karst areas of our region, has been marked by a difficult life conditions of its inhabitants. This paper analyzes the trends of nuptiality, fertility and mortality in 7 Catholic parishes of Middle Lika and 2 parishes of Podgorje from 1740 to 1858. The obtained data is also used to observe how Middle Lika lived through two crisis periods recognized at the level of the whole Europe – the eighties of the 18th century and the period after the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815-1818). In both periods, the synergy of socio-political specificities and extreme weather conditions partly caused by volcanic eruptions led to widespread famines. The situation in Lika society in the mentioned periods is very opposite. The eighties of the 18th century hit Middle Lika very hard, which is confirmed by huge jumps in mortality and falls in marriage rates, and during the whole decade the population growth was negative in the observed parishes. On the other hand, the period after the Napoleonic wars minimally affected the Middle Lika society, no more than many other years of scarcity. The analysis of overall trends confirms that Middle Lika in the second half of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century was demographically a typical pre-industrial society characterized by a high birth rate and high mortality, especially of children.