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This volume examines contrasting historical demographics in Western Europe and Asia, taking the Netherlands and Taiwan as representative populations. Both countries have witnessed steady, continuous improvements in public health, disease prevention, and medical care. The contributors compare the impact of disease and mortality on the lives of individuals and families under very different cultural and social conditions. Death at the Opposite Ends of the Eurasian Continent analyzes a variety of factors, including maternal and infant mortality, as well as the accuracy of Taiwan's censuses and death reporting.

Historical demographers since Malthus have characterized the West-European and Chinese demographic regimes as systems under low and high pressure, respectively. This volume examines the operation of the positive check at the two ends of the Eurasian continent by taking the Netherlands and Taiwan as representatives of the West-European and Chinese mortality regimes. Are these cases as different as the low and high pressure contrast implies? The volume opens with a cluster of chapters dealing with long term trends in mortality and the accompanying changes in causes of death (Chapters 1 through 4 ). Both Taiwan and the Netherlands witnessed steady improvements in public health, disease prevention, medical care, and living conditions in the periods described; these trends are discussed in Chapters 5 though 8. The third cluster of chapters analyzes the factors affecting maternal and infant mortality (Chapters 9 through 12). Finally, in Chapter 13, the accuracy of Taiwan's censuses and death reporting is assessed. - In dit boek beschrijven auteurs uit de VS, Nederland en Taiwan de historische ontwikkeling van de sterfte in Taiwan en Nederland. De auteurs gebruiken die twee landen als representatief voor de demografische regimes in West Europa en Azië. Volgens de beroemde econoom en demograaf Thomas Malthus is het hoge sterftecijfer in China te verklaren door een structurele overbevolking; de dood als 'positieve check' om de bevolkingsgroei af te remmen. Deze bundel tracht antwoord te geven op deze stelling . Aan bod komen de lange termijn ontwikkeling van sterfte en sterfteoorzaken. Speciale aandacht is er voor de verbetering van de gezondheidszorg in de twee landen en voor de moeder- en kindersterfte. De empirische bijdragen laten de verwachte verschillen zien, maar stuiten ook op opvallende overeenkomsten.