Product Information
Many historical processes exhibit recurrent patterns of change. Century-long periods of population expansion come before long periods of stagnation and decline; the dynamics of prices mirror population oscillations; and states go through strong expansionist phases followed by periods of state failure, endemic sociopolitical instability, and territorial loss. Peter Turchin and Sergey Nefedov explore the dynamics and causal connections between such demographic, economic, and political variables in agrarian societies and offer detailed explanations for these long-term oscillations--what the authors call secular cycles. Secular Cycles elaborates and expands upon the demographic-structural theory first advanced by Jack Goldstone, which provides an explanation of long-term oscillations. This book tests that theory's specific and quantitative predictions by tracing the dynamics of population numbers, prices and real wages, elite numbers and incomes, state finances, and sociopolitical instability. Turchin and Nefedov study societies in England, France, and Russia during the medieval and early modern periods, and look back at the Roman Republic and Empire. Incorporating theoretical and quantitative history, the authors examine a specific model of historical change and, more generally, investigate the utility of the dynamical systems approach in historical applications. An indispensable and groundbreaking resource for a wide variety of social scientists, Secular Cycles will interest practitioners of economic history, historical sociology, complexity studies, and demography.Product Identifiers
PublisherPrinceton University Press
ISBN-139780691136967
eBay Product ID (ePID)90247071
Product Key Features
Number of Pages360 Pages
Publication NameSecular Cycles
LanguageEnglish
SubjectEconomics, Government, Sociology
Publication Year2009
TypeTextbook
Subject AreaHuman Biology
AuthorPeter Turchin, Sergey A. Nefedov
Dimensions
Item Height235 mm
Item Weight652 g
Additional Product Features
Country/Region of ManufactureUnited States
Title_AuthorSergey A. Nefedov, Peter Turchin