Maramureş and the Cholera (1831-1893)
Maramureş and the Cholera (1831-1893)

Summary/Abstract: The author makes a brief history of the cholera epidemics that occurred in the historical Maramureş. The aim of this research was to find a way to analyse the demographic consequences of an epidemic, based strictly on bureaucratic documents and official statistics, meaning that the researcher is prevented from using both the main sources of historical demography (parish registers and nominal censuses) and the traditional methods of analyse (like, for instance, family reconstruction). Although official reports on epidemics often lack data, applying a critical eye on the source allows for basic epidemic indicators to be calculated. Moreover, provided essential data reconstruction on population movement is available, one can estimate the mortality caused by the epidemic, as well as its – namely the cholera in this case – influence on the population movement related phenomena. In the author’s opinion, the importance of such macroanalysis resides in its power to highlight wide phenomena, specific for a wider area. Having these macro results on hand one can precisely establish the space or contents related elements which are worth a further microanalysis.

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