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Lifespans of the European Elite, 800–1800

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  • Cummins, Neil

Abstract

I analyze the adult age at death of 115,650 European nobles from 800 to 1800. Longevity began increasing long before 1800 and the Industrial Revolution, with marked increases around 1400 and again around 1650. Declines in violent deaths from battle contributed to some of this increase, but the majority must reflect other changes in individual behavior. There are historic spatial contours to European elite mortality; Northwest Europe achieved greater adult lifespans than the rest of Europe even by 1000 ad.

Suggested Citation

  • Cummins, Neil, 2017. "Lifespans of the European Elite, 800–1800," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 77(2), pages 406-439, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:77:y:2017:i:02:p:406-439_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Joerg Baten & Kleoniki Alexopoulou, 2022. "Elite violence and elite numeracy in Africa from 1400 CE to 1950 CE [Quantifying quantitative literacy: age heaping and the history of human capital]," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 26(2), pages 155-184.
    2. Marianna Belloc & Francesco Drago & Mattia Fochesato & Roberto Galbiati, 2024. "Multigenerational Transmission of Wealth: Florence, 1403–1480," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 99-129, April.
    3. Thomas Keywood & Jörg Baten, 2021. "Elite violence and elite numeracy in Europe from 500 to 1900 CE: roots of the divergence," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 15(2), pages 319-389, May.
    4. Robert Stelter & David de la Croix & Mikko Myrskylä, 2020. "Leaders And Laggards In Life Expectancy Among European Scholars From The Sixteenth To The Early Twentieth Century," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2020024, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    5. Andrea Colasurdo & Riccardo Omenti, 2024. "Using online genealogical data for demographic research: An empirical examination of the FamiLinx database," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 51(41), pages 1299-1350.
    6. Julius Koschnick, 2025. "Teacher-directed scientific change:The case of the English Scientific Revolution," Working Papers 0274, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    7. Thomas Baudin & David de la Croix, 2023. "The Emergence of the Child Quantity-Quality Tradeoff - insights from early modern academics," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2023015, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    8. Baten, Jörg, 2019. "Elite Violence and Elite Numeracy in Europe from 500 to 1900 CE: A Co-Evolution?," CEPR Discussion Papers 14013, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General

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