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.
- 398 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
The Native Population of the Americas in 1492
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Table of contents
- Contents
- List of Tables
- List of Maps
- List of Figures
- Foreword
- Native American Populations in 1492: Recent Research and a Revised Hemispheric Estimate
- Supplementary Bibliography
- Preface to the First Edition
- Acknowledgments
- Part I: Estimating the Unknown
- Part II: The Caribbean, Central America, and Yucatán
- Part III: Mexico
- Part IV: South America
- Part V: North America
- Epilogue
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
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Yes, you can access The Native Population of the Americas in 1492 by William M. Denevan in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & Native American Studies. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.