The Demographic Changes In London & Their Social And Economical Effects

The era from Elizabeth I to George II was a transformation period in English History, in which the economy and society in England transformed. London, the political, economical and cultural center of England, underwent many important and far-reaching changes demographically. This thesis mainly focuses on the population increase in London and people's immigration into London. Scholars abroad have studied the demographic changes in London to some extent. These studies don't break away from the emphasis on the static analysis of demography, and underrate the thought train of the development of economy and society. Furthermore, all these studies don't pay enough attention to the relationship between the demographic change and the given historical era, the effect of demographic change on the development of society and economy and the relationship between the development of London and that of England. Scholars at home have studied this topic little. Trying to make up these deficits, this thesis elucidates the demographic changes in this given historical period clearly, studies the causes and effects of these changes, analyzes the social impacts of these changes, and discovers the relationship between the demographic changes in London and the social and economic development of England briefly.According to the historical analysis, no matter from the aspect of different developing stages, or the comparison with other cities in England or Europe, the population of London in this given period increases rapidly. The causes of the rapid increase include: Firstly, the economy in London increased rapidly in this period, which laid a necessary material foundation for the increase of population. Secondly, the formation of London as the center of judiciary, economy, culture and education attracted population out of London, which maintained the steady population increase in London. Thirdly, the agricultural development in the southeast of England was a strong backing force for the development of London and the population increase in London. There are several remarkable features in the course of the population increase in London. Firstly, the population in different areas of London didn't increase identically, but increased differently. The focus of population increase turned from theurban area to sub-urban area. Secondly, the great population increase came with a high mortality. Thirdly, the population from other parts of England played an important part in the population increase in London. Lastly,Immigration is an important factor that effects the population change in London. This thesis mainly studies the population immigrated into London. The population immigration into London maintained the population and social structure steady in London. According to the historical material, scholars has measured and calculated that many people migrated into London every year. According to demography theory, the rapid population increase in London is the result which caused by the mutual effect of the propelling force and the pulling force. The propelling force is the social and economical changes in England, which includes: land shortage caused by the rapid population increase, agricultural changes with the Enclosure Movement as their symbol and the agricultural technology revolution with the Agricultural Reform as its symbol also effected people's immigration into London. The pulling force is London had been the center of economy, trade, politics, judiciary, culture and education, which needed more population. There are two remarkable features in the course of the people's immigration into London. Firstly, as to employment, most of the immigrants first worked as apprentices, and then worked as servants, hired labors, etc. Secondly, as to distance between the immigrants' hometown to London, it grew shorter. Most of the immigrants came from Home Counties.The population increase in London related to the social and economical changes in London and England tightly. On the other hand, the population increase in London also impacted the social and econ...