L'impact des migrations et des inégalités sociales sur le marché matrimonial urbain : le cas de Bilbao (Espagne), 1825-1935

Abstract

This article studies urban marriage patterns; taking the example of Bilbao, located in the north of the Iberian peninsula. During the "Ancien Régime" Bilbao was small commercial town. By the end of the XIXth century it has been transformed into a large industrial city. In each type of society the marriage patterns are affected not only by démographie factors. However the effects are particulary appréciable in a town which has radically transformed its activities and social configuration ; and which above ail experiences recieved an important number of migrants. Based on two différent, yet complementary sources-municipal resisdence lists (from 1825, 1900 and 1935) and civil marriage registers (from 1885, 1900,1920and 1935)-this study attemps to define the central questions which concern the transformation of a town on entering the modem era.