1720er

1720er is a term used in German-language historiography and genealogical literature to denote people born in the calendar year 1720. The expression refers to a specific birth cohort within the broader early eighteenth century, sometimes described as the Jahrgang 1720. The label is used to examine shared life trajectories, education, and the influence of major historical currents such as the Enlightenment, late Baroque culture, and the early phase of industrial and administrative change.

People born in 1720 grew up in a Europe governed by monarchies, evolving science, and expanding cultural and imperial networks. They reached adulthood in the 1730s and 1740s and were active during the mid-to-late eighteenth century, a period marked by philosophical debates, reforms, wars, and the maturation of modern state institutions. Members of the cohort contributed to a variety of spheres, including government and administration, the clergy, the military, science, commerce, and the arts. Their experiences were regionally diverse, reflecting differences in country, class, and access to education.

Demographically, life expectancy at birth was low, but many who survived infancy could live into their 60s or beyond, making the 1720er a long-lived generation that helped shape late eighteenth-century society. The term is primarily a historiographical tool used by scholars and genealogists and is not typically employed as a strict demographic category in broader discourse.

See also: 18th century, 1720s, year 1720 in science.