Massimo Livi Bacci Book order

Human history has always been marked by the movement of people and populations, from the earliest movement of human beings out of Africa to the flows of migrants and refugees today. While mobility is intrinsic to human nature, migration is not always voluntary: it can be the result of free choice, but it can also be forced in varying ways and to varying degrees. In this book, Massimo Livi Bacci examines migrations past and present with reference to the degree of free choice behind them. The degree can be minimal, as when migration is compelled by war, natural disaster or the actions of a tyrant, but in other cases the decision to migrate can be fully voluntary and deliberate, as when individuals and groups weigh up their options and decide whether to move. Between these two poles there is a continuum of different situations, with gradually increasing or decreasing degrees of freedom and choice. Livi Bacci explores these variations by focusing on fifteen stories of migration from Antiquity to the present day, ranging from the Greek colonization of the Eastern Mediterranean in the Ancient world to the great migration of millions of people from Europe to the Americas in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Taken together, these stories of human movement shed fresh light on the millennia-long history of migration and its motivations, causes and consequences.

The latest edition of this classic text has been updated to reflect current trends and implications for future demographic developments. The areas of Africa, international migration and population and environment have been strengthened and statistical information has been updated throughout.

In the space of another generation, the population of the earth will rise by 2. 5 billion. Yet the real problem we face is not so much the increase in numbers as the fact that growth will be highly uneven.

Focusing on the social and demographic history of Portugal over the last century, this book examines the significant transition from high fertility rates to a more moderate pattern. It delves into the factors influencing this change, providing insights into the implications for Portuguese society and its evolution.

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of Italian fertility trends from the Napoleonic era to the twentieth century, utilizing statistical data from the 1861 national unification. It highlights key features of the significant decline in fertility, including its swift onset in northern and central Italy, the increasing urban-rural divide, and the emergence of social and economic disparities. Additionally, it examines the slower decline observed in the southern regions, providing a nuanced understanding of demographic changes over time.

The essay explores the intricate connections between subsistence, mortality, and population through biological, social, and cultural mechanisms. It delves into how these factors interact and influence each other, providing insights into the dynamics of human societies and their survival strategies.