BIRTH RATE AMONG THE HILL MARY IN KOZMODEMYANSK COUNTY IN THE XIX CENTURY
The problem of studying the Russian family is one of the topical directions in the national historical science. This is explained by the fact that reproduction of the population is closely connected with interfamilial attitudes. The present article is devoted to the issue of birth rate among the hill Mari of Kozmodemyansk county in the XIX century. The research is based on comprehensive analysis of church statistics, namely, registers of births, marriages and deaths of Chermyshevo's parish in Bolsheyunginsky parish of Kozmodemyansk county in 1800-1899. In this research the author draws attention to such aspects as the population size and the number of households in Chermyshevo parish, the birth rate, the quantitative relationship of legitimate and illegitimate children, seasonality of giving birth, christening etc. It is concluded that, in general, positive dynamics in birth rate was observed during the time under consideration. Despite high mortality, especially in infancy and childhood, the population of Chermyshevo parish increased significantly by the middle of the XIX century, which later led to splitting of the parish. Many factors, including natural-climatic, socio-economic etc., influenced the change in dynamics of birth rate and population size.