Oke thanks. I would have to check them out. Wikipedia does cite Chandler, but his figures for Athens seem to be an overstimation, and rather stable at that. 35,000 for 1400, 35,000 for 1500, 33,000 for 1600 and then 30,000 in 1850. This conflicts with the data I've found. A census in 1824 puts the inhabitants at 9,040 in 1,605 houses. And in the top 10 of most important cities, after (among others) Tripoli and Patras (with each around 15,000 inhabitants). (source)
Furthermore a vistor to the city in 1395 estimates the city had more-or-less 1,000 houses. Unfortunately, we do not know the average occupancy of one house, nor their quality. However, if we the 1824 census as a guide, we'd arrive at around 5,000-6,000 inhabitants at that time. Certainly fewer than the 35000 claimed by Chandler. This is further supported by the observation that the city had 'no inn or other place for accommodation of travellers.' Something you'd expect in a city 35000. (source)
The same source also mentions a pilgrim to the region (around 1340) who describes Athens as 'almost deserted,' although he may not have visited the city. This does not support Chandler's claim that the city had between 25,000 and 35,000 inhabitants at that time, and better my assertion of 5,000-6,000 inhabitants.
A look at the siege of Athens of 1687 also paints a picture of a city substantially smaller than what Chandler would indicate. Although we have to keep in mind that this data comes from a time of war, and thus might not represent the normal population. But one sources gives me the following information:
After the siege of Athens in 1687 3,000 Turks left, of whom 5-600 capable of baring arms. 300, male and female, elected to stay behind. There were also about 100 jewish households.
In 1688 there were 3000 inhabitants in the city capable of baring arms, including Albanians who had fled from the country side. Assuming the same ration of 1 to 5 as the Turkish inhabitants, that would leave the city with 15,000 inhabitants in 1688. Plus the 3,000 Turks who had left, would put the upper bounds of the city at 18000. Now, we do not know how many of those 3,000 were natives of the city, how many may have been refuges, and how many may have fled before hand. It was noted that the Athenians loathed the idea of leaving the city, so it seems unlikely that many would have fled before hand (with 'liberation' in sight). The fact that the Albanians were explicitly mentioned, would indicate they formed at least a sizeable portion of that 3,000. Furthermore, it was later mentioned the Venetians considered evacuating the Greeks, but that arranging transport for 6,000 Greeks would be problematic.
So putting this all together, you had about 3,300 Turks in the city, 6,000 Greeks, a few hundred Jews, and an unspecified number of Albanians. This would put the 1687 population of Athens at around 10,000-12,000.
A look at images from the siege does not indicate a city of tenthousands. Certainly not when we compare them to images from 1810 and 1820, not long before the census put the number of inhabitants at 9,040. 9,040 people who fitted in the city walls, where would the other 25,000 people be? There is no evidence of dense building
Putting this all together, I feel a population figure around 10.000 for the whole period is fairly reasonable, certainly far more reasonable than the 30,000-35,000
Sorry, that was sarcasm, that doesn't translate well.
(Don't feel much about arguing about anything else)
