Käsikirjoitusväestö
Käsikirjoitusväestö, meaning "script population" or "manuscript population" in Finnish, refers to the population of individuals who are identifiable or distinguishable based on their participation in or creation of written documents. This concept is particularly relevant in historical and sociological research where the existence of written records is crucial for understanding past societies. A käsikirjoitusväestö is not defined by geographical boundaries or strict demographic categories but by the imprint they leave in written form. This can include everyone from kings and queens, whose decrees and correspondence survive, to ordinary citizens mentioned in legal documents, tax records, or parish registers.
The study of a käsikirjoitusväestö allows historians and social scientists to reconstruct social structures, economic activities,