University:
Arizona State University
Course:
HST 200 | Historical Themes
Academic year:

2024
Views:

60

Pages:

2
Author:

Thuyoul US

EVOLUTION OF THE POPULATION IN LA VEGA Before beginning with the explanation of the evolution of the phenomenon of illegitimacy in La Vega during the years 1592-1800, it is interesting that we first analyze the population settled during these centuries in the Satauteño plot. If we take as consultative elements the different population counts carried out15 we can observe that the evolution during the period of analysis is as follows: The population indices are quite high if we compare them with other parishes. It should be borne in mind that its geographical position close to the city and its privileged agricultural conditions made it a fundamental rural enclave, in which the movement of people from all walks of life was always very important. The graph clearly shows that the demographic dynamics remained stable until 1688, after which a significant population increase was observed until the end of the eighteenth century. If we compare the case of La Vega with other Gran Canarian parishes of the time, we can see that it shows a more upward general trend, especially from 1733 onwards. Among the possible causes of this increase in the population rate we must place the existence of a close socio-economic relationship with La Ciudad, which although it became a focus of attraction for some residents of La Vega, it seems that its contribution of people to the community of Satauteña was very important, especially because Las Palmas supplied it with large contingents of day laborers who worked in the fields providing and supplying products to the locals. urban dwellers. Thus, agricultural activity constitutes an attraction during the period and acts as a focus of attraction. It is interesting to emphasize this idea since the general increase in the population of Satauteña will also mean the arrival of people of high social status who settle in La Vega. Let us remember that many wealthy people prefer to live on the outskirts on their farms and managing the possessions they own in the city.16 This fact is very significant since the arrival of people of a wealthier economy or social status goes hand in hand with the arrival of a greater number of women willing to work as domestic servants. To this must be added the large number of slaves that appear in the documentation, which reinforces our thesis of the arrival in La Vega of people of high birth. Let us now look at other statistics about the evolution of births and the birth rate during the period of analysis: Looking at births, we can see that the evolution throughout the study period follows the same general trend, that is, it shows a gradual growth, remaining upward in almost the entire time of the study. However, after analysing the birth rate, we can see two distinct phases. The first of these was located from 1676 to 1688, in which the indices remained relatively constant and high in relation to the volume of population; and a second phase from 1688 onwards in which birth rates began to decline, although the trend at the end of the century seemed to be upward again.