Generationenfolge

Generationenfolge (German for “succession of generations”) is a term used in several scientific and cultural disciplines to describe the chronological ordering and relationship of successive generations within a population, family line, or material culture. In demography and population genetics the concept refers to the transmission of genetic material from parents to offspring and the resulting changes in allele frequencies across successive cohorts. It underlies models of genetic drift, natural selection and demographic momentum, where the size and composition of each generation influence the dynamics of the following one.

In genealogy, Generationenfolge designates the linear chain of ancestors and descendants, often visualised in family trees. It is employed to calculate degree of kinship, inheritance rights and historical lineage, and to assess the continuity or disruption of familial lines due to migration, mortality or social factors.

Within cultural studies and archaeology, the term describes the sequential development of material artefacts, artistic styles or technological innovations as they are transmitted from one generation of craftsmen or users to the next. This perspective emphasizes how tradition and innovation interact, allowing scholars to trace the evolution of motifs, manufacturing techniques or social practices over time.

Related concepts include generation gap, intergenerational transmission, cohort analysis and lineage. While the literal meaning is straightforward, the analytical use of Generationenfolge varies: in biology it focuses on quantitative genetic change; in genealogy it highlights relational connections; and in cultural history it stresses continuity and transformation of knowledge and material culture.

The concept is integral to models that require an explicit accounting of temporal succession, such as Leslie matrix population projections, pedigree analysis in breeding programmes and the study of cultural diffusion. By structuring observations around the sequential nature of generations, Generationenfolge provides a framework for understanding how traits—genetic, social or material—persist, adapt, or disappear across time.