Historical Models of the Central European Family: Czech and Slovak Examples

Abstract

Preliminary research on the history of family and demography among Czechs and Slovaks in the pre-modern period suggests that these central European peoples shared both western and eastern charcteristics, but also that results depend very much on the geographical location of the community being analyzed, on its nationality composition, and its socio-economic characteristics. Using internationally accepted analytical techniques such as family reconstitution and household-structure analysis, research continues on a wide range of sources such as ecclesiastical registers, household listings, and the population sources known as status animarum.