46 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
of years ago. On the contrary, during the agricultural period, children were
not a burden any more but constituted a capital with economic value for
the cultivation of the land.
During the agricultural period, until the middle of the 17th century,
a slowly accelerating population increase is observed, although in the short
run there are regressions. A characteristic such case is the decrease of the
European population from 85 to approximately 60 million in the middle of
the 14th century due to bubonic plague (black death). From 1348 to 1379,
the English population fell from 3.8 to 2.1 million due to this plague.
The pre-industrial period, 1650–1850, is characterized by a great acceleration of the human population increase. It is estimated that the yearly
percentage of increase was 0.3% in the century 1650–1750 and 0.5% in
the century 1750–1850. During the first century, the population of Europe
and Russia increased from 103 to 144 million, while during the second the
population of Europe doubled. In that last period the population of the
New World increased from 12 to 60 million, something that was to a great
part due to immigration. The population of the United States was, according to the first census (1790), 4 million, while in 1850 it reached 23 million.
The rapid increase of agricultural production and of trade, the New
World’s opening to European exploitation and the adoption of personal
hygiene habits were causes that influenced directly or indirectly death and
birth rates. The introduction of two new foodstuffs, maize and potato,
definitely influenced the population increase, given that with these foodstuffs a large family could be supported from a small piece of land. The
wide application of potato cultivation in Northern Europe during the
18th century was probably the main reason for the population increase
in that area. Ireland’s population explosion is characteristic; during that
period, the population increased from 3 to 8 million. Also, a great population decrease in Ireland followed the destruction of potato production
in 1846 and 1847 due to a plant disease. It is estimated that one million
people died, while two million people immigrated. In Asia, the population increased by 50–70% during the period 1650–1750. It seems that this
increase took place mainly in China as a result of a progressive agricultural
policy and the introduction of maize and other new vegetable foods. In the
period 1750–1850, the population of Asia increased by approximately 50%.
Africa’s population during the period 1650–1850 seems to have remained
almost stable, around 100 million.
The industrial revolution, in spite of the terrible, by the current criteria,
working conditions in mines and factories, caused an immediate rise of the
standard of living in Europe and North America. The progress in agriculture, industry and transportation, the sanitary technology works (sewers,
drinking water purification) during the last third of the 19th century, and
the introduction of vaccinations constituted mortality decrease determinants. In Europe, the percentage of mortality was 22–24‰ in 1850 and
of years ago. On the contrary, during the agricultural period, children were
not a burden any more but constituted a capital with economic value for
the cultivation of the land.
During the agricultural period, until the middle of the 17th century,
a slowly accelerating population increase is observed, although in the short
run there are regressions. A characteristic such case is the decrease of the
European population from 85 to approximately 60 million in the middle of
the 14th century due to bubonic plague (black death). From 1348 to 1379,
the English population fell from 3.8 to 2.1 million due to this plague.
The pre-industrial period, 1650–1850, is characterized by a great acceleration of the human population increase. It is estimated that the yearly
percentage of increase was 0.3% in the century 1650–1750 and 0.5% in
the century 1750–1850. During the first century, the population of Europe
and Russia increased from 103 to 144 million, while during the second the
population of Europe doubled. In that last period the population of the
New World increased from 12 to 60 million, something that was to a great
part due to immigration. The population of the United States was, according to the first census (1790), 4 million, while in 1850 it reached 23 million.
The rapid increase of agricultural production and of trade, the New
World’s opening to European exploitation and the adoption of personal
hygiene habits were causes that influenced directly or indirectly death and
birth rates. The introduction of two new foodstuffs, maize and potato,
definitely influenced the population increase, given that with these foodstuffs a large family could be supported from a small piece of land. The
wide application of potato cultivation in Northern Europe during the
18th century was probably the main reason for the population increase
in that area. Ireland’s population explosion is characteristic; during that
period, the population increased from 3 to 8 million. Also, a great population decrease in Ireland followed the destruction of potato production
in 1846 and 1847 due to a plant disease. It is estimated that one million
people died, while two million people immigrated. In Asia, the population increased by 50–70% during the period 1650–1750. It seems that this
increase took place mainly in China as a result of a progressive agricultural
policy and the introduction of maize and other new vegetable foods. In the
period 1750–1850, the population of Asia increased by approximately 50%.
Africa’s population during the period 1650–1850 seems to have remained
almost stable, around 100 million.
The industrial revolution, in spite of the terrible, by the current criteria,
working conditions in mines and factories, caused an immediate rise of the
standard of living in Europe and North America. The progress in agriculture, industry and transportation, the sanitary technology works (sewers,
drinking water purification) during the last third of the 19th century, and
the introduction of vaccinations constituted mortality decrease determinants. In Europe, the percentage of mortality was 22–24‰ in 1850 and