Research On England Family Size In The 17th Century

In Medieval England,the meaning of family was more extensive.People who live under the same roof can be regarded as family members,not limited to blood relatives or marriage relatives.The unique family cognition was shaped by specific historical and cultural environment.Whether aristocratic or civilian families,there are servants,apprentices,lodgers and other people in the family.Families with high social status own more cohabitants.The reduction of family size is achieved by removing such population and reducing the fertility rate.This paper researchs on the characteristics,changes and influencing factors of England family size in the 17 th century.The 17th Glorious Revolution established a constitutional monarchy,Meanwhile,the capitalist economy flourished and puritanism further developed,sectarian division and religious debate were one after another.In this case,the family structure,size and internal relations presents the new era’s characteristics.The family structure was increasingly shrinking to the nuclear family.It has become more exclusive and private.The size of the family was gradually reduced and the non blood relatives and distant kinship are excluded from the nuclear family.The purity of blood relationship is increasingly emphasized.People’s concept of family also changed.The meaning of family gradually includes only blood relatives,especially parents and children.After the reduction of family size,the economic and educational functions of family also moved out,which promoted the separation between family and workplace,the public education also improved.The rapid development of individualism has also promoted the status of women and children,because everyone is an important contributor to family economy,the decision right of women and children has increased,status differences between men and women reduced and family ethics is also improving.