Debates about the nature and geographical distribution of complex family
households in the European past continue to animate much of the work of family history. This ar
ticle criticizes the common view that demographic constraints prevented the realization of com
plex family forms in western Europe. It also takes issue with recent attempts to contrast a
Mediterranean household system with those found in northwestern Europe and in eastern Europe.
Evidence from Italian sharecroppers in the Bologna area in the period 1861-1921 is presented
and comparative evidence from eastern Europe is discussed. The important differences between
stem and joint family systems are elucidated.
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