Original scientific paper

The Population of Donji Miholjac (1870-1880): Pre-Transition Period

Marija Brandić
Monika Grdiša-Asić
Ivan Čipin

Abstract

Although by the period 1870-1880 demographic transition had already begun in the Adriatic belt, and was well under way in southern Croatia (Dubrovnik), Donji Miholjac did not experience any changes characteristic of this process. In this Slavonian community the pre-transitional features were most evident in the natural population decline (an annual average of 1.73‰ in contrast to the population growth in coastal Croatia), low life expectancy (less than 1% died above the age of 80 in comparison to more than 10% on the Dalmatian islands), early marriage (bride and groom were almost 10 years younger than on the Dalmatian islands), frequent remarriages (33%). The specific feature of Donji Miholjac manifests in the negative migration rate, contrary to the overall trend in Slavonia of the period. This explains the inability of the population to compensate for the natural decline, so that Donji Miholjac, unlike Slavonia on the whole, experienced a population decrease. The frequency of conceptions in Donji Miholjac is well-balanced, characterised by a mild summer-autumn drop (from July to October). In terms of seasonal distribution, marriage is typical of the northern Croatia, exhibiting an autumn and winter maximum, with the prevalence of the latter. Although the ratio of illegitimate children in Donji Miholjac to the Croatian average was considerable, yet a very high number of the married couples observed the religious norms governing sexual behaviour (92% of the first born children were conceived after the wedding). There is no evidence of consanguineous marriages.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

39112

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/39112

Publication date:

10.6.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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