Connecting Migration and World History: Demographic Patterns, Family Systems and Gender

• Published in: International review of social history 2007-04, Vol.52 (1), p.97-104
• Main Author: Page Moch, Leslie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 19th century; Asian history; Asian people; Centuries; Chinese; Chinese history; Chinese languages; Daughters; Demographic Change; Demographics; Demography; East and West; Economic systems; Emigration; Families & family life; Family; Family Structure; Famine; Females; Gender; Gender relations; History; Human migration; Infanticide; Labor migration; Marriage; Mate Selection; Migrant Workers; Migrants; Migration; Opposite Sex Relations; Parents & parenting; Patriarchies; Patriarchy; Peasants; Peoples Republic of China; Personal relationships; Political migration; Population Characteristics; Power; Social history; Social systems; SUGGESTIONS AND DEBATES; Wives; Women; World history
• ISSN: 0020-8590; 1469-512X
• DOI: 10.1017/S002085900600280X

The history of migration is the history of human connections. Migration, then, is a powerful element in world history precisely because it identifies points of contact among peoples and nations and thus provides a deeper understanding of the human experience than institutional or diplomatic perspectives. Here, I seek to connect the global history of migration to family systems, demographic patterns and gender relations – those most intimate connections that bring life to our analyses of the past. A global perspective on historical migrations offers a fascinating challenge to the Europeanist, familiar with the rhythms of European migration and the social and economic systems that gave rise to them. In response to Adam McKeown's observations about Asia in world migrations, I focus on Chinese family and gender relations.