The Native Population of the Americas in 1492

. Ed(s): Denevan, William M.

ISBN 10: 0299134342 / ISBN 13: 9780299134341

Published by University of Wisconsin Press, 1992

About this Item

In this collection of essays, historians, anthropologists and historical demographers discuss the population estimates for the New World before and after the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Topics such as the Indian slave trade, disease and military action are covered. Editor(s): Denevan, William M. Num Pages: 384 pages, 7 maps, 6 figures. BIC Classification: 1K; HBJK; HBLC; HBTP; JHBD; JHMP. Category: (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly; (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 229 x 152 x 21. Weight in Grams: 540. . 1992. Second. paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780299134341

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Native Population of the Americas in 1492
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
• Publication Date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0299134342
• ISBN 13: 9780299134341
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

William M. Denevan writes that, "The discovery of America was followed by possibly the greatest demographic disaster in the history of the world." Research by some scholars provides population estimates of the pre-contact Americas to be as high as 112 million in 1492, while others estimate the population to have been as low as eight million. In any case, the native population declined to less than six million by 1650.
    In this collection of essays, historians, anthropologists, and geographers discuss the discrepancies in the population estimates and the evidence for the post-European decline. Woodrow Borah, Angel Rosenblat, William T. Sanders, and others touch on such topics as the Indian slave trade, diseases, military action, and the disruption of the social systems of the native peoples. Offering varying points of view, the contributors critically analyze major hemispheric and regional data and estimates for pre- and post-European contact.
    This revised edition features a new introduction by Denevan reviewing recent literature and providing a new hemispheric estimate of 54 million, a foreword by W. George Lovell of Queen's University, and a comprehensive updating of the already extensive bibliography. Research in this subject is accelerating, with contributions from many disciplines. The discussions and essays presented here can serve both as an overview of past estimates, conflicts, and methods and as indicators of new approaches and perspectives to this timely subject.

About the Author

William M. Denevan is the Carl O. Sauer professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.