Attitudes procréatrices de la société dans l'ancienne Pologne

Abstract

This article presents the results of the researches on the demographic potential of the families in the XVIIIth century Warsaw -the biggest Polish urban area of this period-. The author has reconstructed with a French method of L. Henry nearly 2.000 of the families, on the basis of 80.000 certificates of marriages, baptisms, funerals from central, capital St. Cross Parish. This is one of the very few Polish attempt quantitative characteristic of the Old Polish family, which has come into being with the application of the computer technique so far. The researches that are presented in the article have proved, that within the space of more than the half-century (1740-1799) extent of Warsaw families underwent changes -decreased and the procreation cycly finished earlier-. Simultaneously, the results that had been obtained became the basis of wider considerations that concern procreation attitudes of the Old Polish society. Referring to other sources of the epoch (diaries, herbal guides, medical guides, belles-lettres, legal books, newspapers) the author advances the hypothesis, which had been supplied documentary evidence that the society of the time not only had known, but also had applied varied anti procreation practices. Their aim had been not to become pregnant or birth a child, including applying to herbal and chemical miscarrying medications. Furthermore the author has enclosed leaving babies and killing children issues to his own considerations.