Humans and the Environment
Big Era Six was characterized by two contrasting major trends in human demography. On the one hand, it was a period of major population increase in Afroeurasia. The world’s population increased from about 375 million in 1400 to 954 million in 1800. On the other hand, it saw a catastrophic collapse in the population of the Americas as a whole, which plummeted from at least 50 million in 1500 to perhaps 10 million by 1600.
Within these discordant trends, some important continuities may be seen. For example, as late as 1800, the end of Big Era Six, no more than about 2 percent of humans lived in cities, while 95 percent were farmers. The rest, about 3 percent, were foragers or pastoral nomads.
Consider differences in the population histories of these major world regions:
Within these discordant trends, some important continuities may be seen. For example, as late as 1800, the end of Big Era Six, no more than about 2 percent of humans lived in cities, while 95 percent were farmers. The rest, about 3 percent, were foragers or pastoral nomads.
Consider differences in the population histories of these major world regions:
- China and India together had a population of around 140 million in 1400. At the end of Big Era Six they numbered 330 million and 180 million respectively.
- Europe’s population went from about 52 million in 1400 to 146 million in 1800, with most of the increase coming in the eighteenth century.
- The population of Africa south of the Sahara was around 60 million in 1400 and may have reached 104 million by 1600. Because of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, numbers then declined, decreasing to about 92 million in 1800.
- The population of Latin America, which may have been 36 million in 1400, fell to 10 million by 1600. At this point, a gradual recovery set in, but by 1800 numbers had only recovered to about 19 million.