• Thomas More- Utopia Population is kept constantEqual food distributionCrops are controlled
• 1798- Thomas Malthus- popualtion growth is geometric; food supply is not- pop. Outgrows resources- leads to famine war, human suffering suggested late marriage, small families
Increases in Growth Rate• Humans evolved~ 100,000 years ago- population controlled by starvation, predation disease- old age 35; high infancy mortality rateGrowth rate started to increase ~ 10,000 years ago w/ increase in agriculture- agricultural revolution with a steady food supply farming communities devloped, higher standard of living; world pop- 5-10 million peopleGrowth continued with industrial revolution- last 300 years greater food supply, shorter work day, better living conditions and distribution of food through technologyHealth Care- w/ germ theory advances in health care has increased life expectancy and lowered infant mortality rates germ theory- microorganisms responsible for many diseases Vaccines, antibiotics and other medical advances prolong life
Which theory lead to decrease in the death rate?
• A) evolution
• B) Thomas Malthus' theory
• C) germ
• D) atomic
Which change occurred during the agricultural revolution?
A) mass production of goods
B) reduction of the work day
C) increased life expectancy
D) improved health care
Which would not cause a decrease in the human population?A) war
B) famine
C) germ theory
D) Black Plague
Declines in Growth Rates• In mid 14th c - major
decline in growth rate Bubonic plague-Black Death: 25% of
Europe& Asia pop died; 50% England- also otbreaks of chlorea, typhus, malaria, yellow fever,small pox
Famine: 1840’s Irish potato famine; 1876-79 China famine
War: not only directly reduces Pop. But also causes famine, Disease and env. Destruction21.5 million WWI; 35-60 million- WWII
Many people believe until we get to zero population growthWe can’t really solve the rest of the world’s problem.
Measuring Growth Rate
Birth rate- (minus)Death rate ( rates are per 1,000 people)
Doubling time is how long it will take a current population to double, at the present growth rate. (Mexico City- 10 yrs.)
If you are studying a specific pop. You must also take into
Account emigration ( leaving) and immigration (entering).
0200400600800
1000120014001600
8000BC
1650 1850 1930 1975
Line 1
Demography It is important to know how many people There are, but also what type of peopleMake up the population.
the science of changing vital statistics in a human pop. is called demography i.e sex, age, education, race, economic status etc.
By studying these things we can plan for the future- compare the graphs on page 205. Which country is going to have to invest in increased infrastructure and social institutions, assuming the death rate does not increase?
What affects the needs of a society
PopulationTechnology Standard of Living
Industrialized nations energy needshave risen at a far greater rate than theirpopulationUndeveloped nations are expected to increase their populations the most.
13.3 Challenges of Overpopulation
• Greater demand on space• Greater demand on resources• Less land available for other organisms• Life is interconnected- a problem in
China can affect the rest of the world (pollution, volcanic eruption, overpop.)• Health- related to pop. size; > pop
>disease, hygiene famine, medical problems
• Increased effect of damage to env.
Planet Earth- Into the Wilderness:Human Population and Strained Resources
Controlling Population Size
This is not as easy as it sounds
• unethical?• children are source of pride, work, • religious/cultural opposition• what happens when you do?- fewer young people- more old people
Is overpopulation so bad?
Some say- no Increased technology allows us to
solve food production, health concerns and env, issues
Some say- YesThe Earth has a finite carrying capacity and we cannot exceed it