Families and individuals concerning the movement of population in pre-modern society of England and Japan
by U4 Sakamoto Yoko
June 13th 2007
1.Topics of Historical Demography
Most important topic of this presentation is birth control, that is the most private part of a human life. The subjects of study are pre-modern society of England and Japan.
2.Difficulty of birth studies
Few events of the object has been put on record. That is because birth control is very intimate affairs. So, both a difference of quantitative history and sample survey are very important.
3.England in 17th century
The book, “The family life of Ralf Joselin”, written by A.Macfarlane shows social economic environment and their mentality those days. As a result, it showed no signs of having done birth control intentionally. In other words, it can be said that birth control in pre-modern society is an exception.
4.Japan, Tokugawa Era
In Japan, Some literary works show that people did not only abortion but also infanticide. For example, “tsuchi” written by nagatsuka takashi says that the most important reason of abortion and infanticide was desperate poverty.
5.Conclusion
There are three important things. One is the risk of generating impression by sample surveys. Second is the quantitative history is undoubtedly important. Especially people’s private event such as birth control cannot get direct evidence, so large amount of data make a stable result. Third is the importance of considering more sharp scale and indicator.
6.Comparative history
From the view of historical study, non-quantity and qualitative data give us more essential point. As the study shows, it revealed that in both 17th century England and Tokugawa era Japan, pre-modern people didn’t control their birth in their original way. But, there are some questions, for examples, how difference are their mentalities concerning birth? I will leave these questions for next time.
The Questions and Answers after Ms Sakamoto’s Presentation
by U4 Kanenari Akiko(13/ 06/2007)
Q: Why did they do birth control in 17th century?
A: It’s because of economical problem. I think poverty is important.
Q: In Japan abortion and infanticide didn’t distinguish. How about England?
A: Infanticide didn’t exist in England. In Japan traditionally boys were more important than girls, but England people didn’t think so.
Q: Is it too easy you think so? It was not so easy in Japan. In fact “Ane-Katoku” existed in Japan. Especially in merchant family girls were important too. Parents could select their daughter’s husband from excellent servants. And they made them take over their house.
A: That is true in merchant family, but this case is in farming society.
Q: What is your intention about “their”, the bottom of your resume, “How difference are their mentalities concerning birth?”? Does it mean England and Japan?
A: Yes. I will think both of them.
Q: Do you want to compare Japan and England?
A: Yes.
Q: Each of them is different. Can you do this?
A: That’s true but I think the difference is important.
Q: You chose “Tsuchi” written by Nagatsuka Takashi. Is it a fiction?
A: Yes.
Q: If you chose fiction, you have to show some historical proof.
A: This fiction shows many historical surveys so I chose this as a reference.
Q: Did parents kill only baby girls in England?
A: Infanticide was rare care in England.
Q: If parents killed baby they would go to prison.
Q: Why did you choose England and Japan?
A: England and Japan have a lot of democratic date.
(1)She reported birth control and comparable history between Japan and England. She gave me new information. In the 17th century, birth control was made in England. In those days, infanticide and abortion was found for non-economic reason. I have known its existence in Japan, so this topic was flesh.Her Speech also suggested qualitative history gave us more essential point than quantitative data in comparable history.
by Takuya Khomoto(3rd grade)
(2)Ms. Sakamoto's presentation "Families and individuals concerning the movement of population" was a shock to me because I learned that English and Japanese people did abortion and infanticide, in 17th century. I know that birth control is doing in modern society - for example, only child - politics of China. But I was surprised that birth control began much earlier than I expected.
by Kakeru Fujiwara(3rd grade)