Occupations and Social Class in Two Mining Area in Transylvania (1850-1910) as Reflected in HPDT

Elena Crinela Holom, Babes-Bolyai University
Luminita Dumanescu, Babes-Bolyai University
Daniela Marza, Center for Transylvanian Studies, Romanian Academy Cluj-Napoca
Ioan Bolovan, Romanian Academy and Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

Between 1850 and 1910, Transylvania experienced an accelerated process of modernization in the sphere of economic, social and cultural relations. The urban population increased from 6.5% in 1850 to 12.4% in 1910, with a decline of almost 25% in the share of the population involved in agricultural activities. Also, the number of those involved in activities specific to a new system of economic and social relations increased, which illustrates Transylvania’s modernization. The evolution towards industrialization and the modernization were stimulated by a series of laws issued after 1881. These regulations were called “laws” in order to promote the industry and among the beneficiaries were also some of the salt mines in Transylvania. An example of this was the salt mine in Ocna Mure?, which, due to massive investments, became the most modern salt mine in Transylvania, and by number of employees was the second largest salt mine exploitation in the Kingdom of Hungary. In return, the Ocna Dej salt mine was seriously affected by the overproduction economic crisis of 1873, which severely limited the amount of salt extracted; the situation went back to normal in 1913. The modernization process of Ocna Dej saline started only in the years 1910–1912, after the mine’s electrification (Albinetz 2010: 28, 194). Based on data included in Historical Population Database of Transylvania, this research aims to analyse the structure of the occupations and social class of the two salt mines between 1850 and 1910. How and when did changes in the occupational and social class structure occur? Is there any connection between denomination and socio-professional status? We will use in this respect the occupational titles of the individuals reported in the registers, which will be coded afterwards in HISCO and HISCLASS. Reference: Albinetz, S. C. (2010). Ocna Dej. Studiu monografic. Târgu Lapu?: Galaxia Gutenberg.

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 Presented in Session 76. Social and professional Trajectories as reflected in the new European databases