This population crash subsequently altered the local environment, spurring the growth of trees and facilitating the spread of frequent forest fires. Pdf reconstructing native american population history. Circulation of a wide variety of crops and livestock supported increases in population in both hemispheres. Research by some scholars provides population estimates of the precontact americas to be as high as 112 million in 1492, while others estimate the population to have been as low as eight million. Native americans precontact prior to 1492 over 10,000 years before columbus, people came to the americas via the bering strait native americans developed a wide variety of social, political, and economic structures based upon interactions with each other and the environment. How did the arrival of europeans spark the population decline of aboriginal people in the new world. Most scholars writing at the end of the 19th century estimated that the precolumbian population was as low as 10 million. The prevailing po sition, a recent one, is that the americas were well. According to renowned american historian and linguist leo weiner of harvard university, one. George lovell, 97802994341, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Denevan writes that, the discovery of america was followed by possibly the greatest demographic disaster in the history of the world. Years before christopher columbus stepped foot on what would come to be known as the americas, the expansive territory was inhabited by native. Estimating the unknown the historical demography of aboriginal and colonial america. Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf reconstructing native american population history article pdf available in nature 4887411.
Did european diseases kill more indigenous americans than. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The native population of the americas in 1492 edited by. As europeans occupied the americas, indians declined in both power and numbers. The native population of the americas in 1492, 2nd edition. Indian numbers the size of the native population at contact is critical to our argument. Nobody really knows what the indian population was in what became known as north and south america when columbus arrived in 1492. Native american depopulation, reforestation, and fire. Whole civilizations had been destroyed and unique cultures lost forever. For comparison, europes population at the time was. Denevan university of wisconsin press madison 1976. Demographic catastrophe what happened to the native population after 1492. Native americans and aboriginals war and genocide in.
My method was to determine rough habitat densities, which project to totals for greater amazonia of. In any case, the native population declined to less. A groundbreaking study that radically alters our understanding of the americas before the arrival of the europeans in 1492. The indian population of north america in 1492 jstor.
His estimate of 100,000 inhabitants of the islands is moderately low, and is based on a straight line method of calculation, not on a curve based on exponential change. There is far less assurance about the probable population of amerindians in north america north of the nahua city states than there is for the heavily urban populations, from the archaeological remains of which populations estimates are considered. However, everyone agrees that the vast majority of indians lived south of the rio grande river, in central and south america. By combining all published estimates from populations throughout the americas, we find a probable indigenous population of 60 million in 1492. However, the magnitude, tempo, and ecological effects of this depopulation remain the source of enduring debates. Daniels wyp hen columbus arrived in the new world, he found large numbers of people whom he named indians. In any case, the native population declined to less than six million by 1650. Correct response c the french were willing to accept native americans into colonial society. The impact of their agricultural endowment to the world is a testament to. Pdf the native population of amazonia in 1492 reconsidered. His ultimate tribebytribe estimate, published in 1928, showed an indian population of 1,150,000 north of the rio grande. Faustus you are citing one work henige in a longrunning academic debate, without looking at the other side eg denevans the native population of the americas in 1492, cited in manns ancient americans. The first scholarly estimate of the indigenous population was made in 1910 by.
Study shows how native american depopulation impacted ecology. Vaccination programs were established in the 19th century and smallpox was gradually eradicated from the americas. Project muse the native population of the americas in 1492. Colonization of americas decimated population, caused. The demographic collapse of native peoples of the americas, 1492. The native population of the americas in 1492 hispanic. Over the next 400 years the native population shrank by millions. After reaching a low in the late 19th century, the native american population has almost fully recovered. Since 1965 i have made several attempts to estimate the native population of amazonia in 1492. Traditionally, americans learned in school that the ancestors of the people who inhabited the western hemisphere at the time of columbuss landing had crossed the bering strait twelve thousand years ago.
Earth system impacts of the european arrival and great. The indian population of the continental united states was small. American action native american population in 1492. What was the population of native americans in north. The native american population of mexico in 1492 has been estimated at 25 million. The indigenous peoples of the americas are the precolumbian peoples of north, central and south america and their descendants although some indigenous peoples of the americas were traditionally huntergatherersand many, especially in the amazon basin, still aremany groups practiced aquaculture and agriculture. The native population of the americas in 1492, 2nd edition kolb. Native american population almost back to 1492 levels. The estimates of population in the americas precolumbus is a controversial subject with values ranging from 8 million to over 100 million.
During that time the native population of the western hemisphere declined by as many as 100 million people. The native population of the americas in 1492, western historical quarterly, volume 9, issue 2, 1 april 1978, pages 2214. Over the next 400 years the native population shrank by. An estimated 5 million native americans lived in the area that would become the united states when christopher columbus arrived in 1492. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence is a good rule.
The native population of the americas in 1492 by w. Recently, scholars have linked indigenous demographic decline, neotropical. The indian population of north america in i492 john d. The changes in agriculture significantly altered and changed global populations. The native american population of mexico in 1492 has been. Mooney was estimating the population not in 1492 but in periods that followed initial contacts with white men including encounters in the american west as late as the 19th century. The native population of the americas in 1492 edited by william m.
Some of the estimate methods are laughably simplistic but the overall impression is a population of about 50 million people in 1492. The population figure of indigenous peoples of the americas before the 1492 spanish voyage of christopher columbus has proven difficult to establish. Native american populations declined between 1492 and 1900 ce, instigated by the european colonization of the americas. The voyage of christopher columbus in 1492 marked the first encounter between spaniards and the native peoples of the western hemisphere. The landscape of 1750 was more pristine less humanized than that of 1492. The native population of the americas in 1492 book, 1976. Estimates european arrival in 1492 lead to 56 million deaths by 1600.
Stannard argues in this stunning new book, the european and white american destruction of the native peoples of the americas was the most massive act of genocide in the history of the world. The native population of the americas in 1492 book, 1992. By 1800 the population of the plains indians was reduced by two thirds. In 1976 denevan assembled and edited an entire book on the subject, the native population of the americas in 1492. Population history of indigenous peoples of the americas. The native population of the americas in 1492 by william m. Large population reduction led to reforestation of 55. The indian populations of north and south america suffered a catastrophic collapse after 1492. Denevan published by university of wisconsin press denevan, william m. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.