Life at the Extremes 2.0: A new research agenda for studying historical life courses in the Netherlands and Taiwan

During the 1990s and early 2000s, a successful collaborative research program has brought together Taiwanese, Dutch (and American) scholars in the study of demographic behaviour at the household level, made possible by the exceptional historical population administrations of both Taiwan and The Netherlands. In this proposed seminar the next generation of researchers will discuss prospects for further explorations in comparative demographic history. New questions have arisen e.g. due to recent advances in biodemography and new data and analytical techniques have become available. The seminar will result in edited volume, but – more importantly – in a research agenda for comparative and collaborative studies on ordinary peoples reactions and life decisions on both sides of Eurasia.