Sons and Lovers: Political Stability in China and Europe Before the Great Divergence
Yuhua Wang
Rulers’ long duration in the medieval period had contributed to rise of Europe. But what explained premodern ruler duration? While extant answers focus on formal, political institutions, I examine role marriage and inheritance norms affecting survival. Using a novel dataset over 1,000 monarchs China Europe from 1000 1800 CE, obtain two findings that have been overlooked by existing literature. First, contrary view European rulers exceptional stability, find Chinese stayed power longer than their counterparts. Second, strong effect family practices More liberal provided emperors with sustained availability male heirs, which reduced palace coups. Church’s control royal decreased number increased probability deposition.
Social Science Research Network