Mortality and quality of life in Viceregal Salta: an analysis through death certificates (1766-1809)

Abstract

In societies of the Ancient Regime, death was a process that involved a preparation deeply rooted in the traditions and customs of individuals with a Catholic mentality characteristic of the Hispanic Monarchy. These rituals were recorded in death records. The objective of this article is to conduct a meticulous survey and analysis of all available death records in the Archive of the Archbishopric of Salta, covering the period between 1766 and 1809. The study aims to unravel the dynamics of mortality, health, and well-being of the urban population in this city, within a context marked by political, civil, and institutional changes and transformations. The goal is to reconstruct the number of burials per year and their relationship with specific conjunctural situations, as well as to identify the socio-economic profile of the deceased, including their age, marital status, and place of origin. Additionally, it seeks to determine the main causes of death in this context, characterized as a "demographic Ancient Regime". By addressing these issues, the importance of death records as primary sources is emphasized. By complementing them with other documentation such as notarial protocols, municipal records, and judicial registers, we can obtain a more comprehensive understanding of mortality, quality of life, and their interrelation with social, cultural, and economic aspects of the inhabitants of the city of Salta.