This article provides an overview of wealth inequality in Germany during 1300–1850, introducing a novel database. We document four alternating phases of inequality decline and growth. The Black Death (1347–1352) led to inequality decline, until about 1450. Thereafter, inequality rose steadily. The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) and the 1627–1629 plague triggered a second phase of inequality reduction. This distinguishes Germany from other European areas where inequality grew monotonically. Inequality growth resumed from about 1700, well before the Industrial Revolution. Our findings offer new material to current debates on the determinants of inequality change in western societies, past and present.

本文概述了 1300 年至 1850 年间德国的财富不平等，并介绍了一个新的数据库。我们记录了不平等下降和增长的四个交替阶段。黑死病（1347-1352）导致不平等程度下降，直到大约 1450 年。此后，不平等程度稳步上升。三十年战争 (1618-1648) 和 1627-1629 年的瘟疫引发了减少不平等的第二阶段。这将德国与其他不平等单调增长的欧洲地区区分开来。早在工业革命之前，不平等的增长从大约 1700 年开始恢复。我们的研究结果为当前关于西方社会过去和现在不平等变化决定因素的辩论提供了新材料。