Course: Introduction to Historical Demography and Statistics

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Course title Introduction to Historical Demography and Statistics
Course code KHI/PBH63
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 3
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Zábranský Vilém, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Koumar Jiří, PhDr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Historical demography and historical statistics - basic concepts and problems 2. Development and approaches to population research in the past 3. Application of historical statistics in Czech and foreign historical science 4. Development and presentation of specific research outputs in modrn Czech historiography 5. Methods and sources of historical demography 6. Methods of using statistical work in historical research, procedure and stages of statistical investigation 7. Types of sources and possibilities of their use 8. Procedures for working with sources, possibilities of their proccesing 9. Electronic tools for historical statistics (spreadsheet calculator, database programs) 10. Demographic phenomena in historical perspective 11. Demographic processes, natural population change 12. Population change of the Czech state 13. Selected population problems of the world 14. Population migration - factors of migration; social and geographical migration

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic aspects of population development against the background of historical development. Emphasis is placed not only on the typologyof sources, but also on the methods of historical demography and historical statistics, including othe quantitative methods in historiographical research. Attention will also be paid to the concrete change of the population of the Czech state in historical perspective. The course will also include procedures for creating an electronic database when working with bulk sources.
The graduate demonstrates knowledge of the basic milestones in the development of Czech and world historical demography. He/she can reliably inform about the most importatn outcomes and cal also reliably characterize their significance for the overall understanding of population development and other population characteristics. (S)he can also explain the basic concepts of historical statistics and its application within historical science. The student will acquire knowledge of the typologyof basic sources used in historical-demographic research, can determine their value for solving partial problems of historical research and can choose the right approach for data processing.
Prerequisites
The prerequisite for the course is a basic orientation in Czech history

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Active participation in the full-time part of the course is required. In addition, a portfolio of assignments including the elaboration of the demograhic development of a selected locality and a partial independent elaboration of a sample of a demographically oriented source (e.g. cadastre, civil registry, etc.). In addition, they must pass a final test.
Recommended literature
  • Eduard Maur. Základy historické demografie. Praha, 1978.
  • Fialová Ludmila a kol. Dějiny obyvatelstva českých zemí. Praha, 1996.
  • Jan Horský - Markéta Seligová. Rodina našich předků. Praha, 1996.
  • Josef Grulich. Populační vývoj a životní cyklus venkovského obyvatelstva na jihu Čech v 16. až 18. století. České Budějovice, 2008.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester