Kovacsics József: A történeti statisztika forrásai (Budapest, 1957)

Angol nyelvű összefoglaló

SOURCES OF HISTORICAL STATISTICS In Hungary, no comprehensive elaboration of the conscriptions of statistical nature originating from the Middle Ages and the first centuries of modern times has yet been undertaken. This volume contains ten studies, written by scientifical workers of the Central Statistical Office and of the National Record Office, in which they undertake the critical review of the most important sources and the possibilities of using them for historical purposes. INTRODUCTION. This is a study on the concept, subject and aims of historical statistics, as well as on the results achieved up to the present in the course of investigations in Hungary and the future tasks of such research. The author reviews and evaluates the histórico-statistical works of Hungarian authors and those of foreign writers in so far as they were concerned with Hungary, from the 16th century onwards, among others the works of Mátyás Bél, Márton Schwartner, Pál Magda, Elek Fényes and Gusztáv Thirring, the last being the founder of systematic histórico-statistical investigation in Hungary. After a review of the published sources, the author examines the evolution of histórico-statistical material in Hungary. From this point of view, he distinguishes three large periods. In the first of these, which runs from the 11th to about the end of the 17th century, conscriptions were undertaken chiefly for taxation purposes. The central question of observation was then the land. The „porta" (i. e. gate in Latin) and the house or the household of the serf were considered as units. Such conscriptions are valuable mainly from the point of view of economic history. Demographical conscriptions in this period were those carried out for the purposes of collecting State taxes, tithes due to the Church and, finally, of fixing the amount of feudal services due to the landlord. The documents produced were the so-called "dica-lists" and tithe-lists respectively, and those of "urbaria". The beginning of the second period may be reckoned from the appearance of Mátyás Bél, and it ends with the activity of Márton Schwartner; thus, it embraces roughly the 18th century. In this period the frame of conscriptions was growing wider. Informations were gathered already not only about the land, but also on the material situation of the tax-paying population as a whole. In addition to conscriptions serving taxation, some special conscriptions were carried out, e. g. on nobility, craftsmen, miners, clergymen and nationalities. During the reign of Charles III and his successor Maria Theresia, demographical conscriptions were undertaken regularly; thus, after the elaboration of these sources, an inquiry into the demographic conditions of the 18th century becomes feasible.