The Historical–Demographic Heritage of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires through Marriage Patterns in Serbia: The Case of Sremska Mitrovica and Šabac, 1900 to 2011

Abstract

The historical–demographic heritage of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires’ rule in Serbia created different models of collective and private life, which had particular influence on marriage patterns. Sremska Mitrovica and Šabac were subject to different marriage policies as jurisdictions separated by the Sava river with specific historical contexts, and together they represent the differences across the border between two empires, whose legacies have lasted until today. Data based on marriage registers from these areas were statistically analyzed by the SPSS software package. This article analyses these differences through data on discrepancies in crude marriage and divorce rates, the first marriage age, and the homogamy of marriages based on the spouses’ geographical origin.