The population has been growing continuous ly since the end o the Black Death, around the year 1400, al- though the most signicant increase has been in the last 50 years, due mainly to medi cal advancements and incr eases in agr icultural productivity. Most estimate s or what is called the carrying capacity o the Earth are between 4 billion and 16 billion. So, it is quite possible that human overpopulation may have already oc - curred. Te population is expected to reach between 8 and 10.5 billion between the year 2040 and 2050. Te recent increase in human population over the past two centuries has raised concerns that the planet may not b e able to sustain present or larger numbers o inhabitants. It has been stated that many environmental problems, such as rising levels o atmospheric carbon dioxide, global warming, and pollution, are aggravated by the population expansion. Other problems associated with overpopulation include the increased demand or resources such as resh water and ood, starvation and malnutrition, c onsumptio n o natural resources aster than the rate o regeneration (such as ossil uels), and a decrease in living conditions. However , some believe that waste and over-consumption, especially by wealthy nations, is putting more strain on the environmen t than overpopulation. Concern about overpopulation is relatively recent in origin. Troughout history, populations have grown slowly despite high birth rates, due to t he population-reducing eects o war , plagues and high inant mortality. During the 750 years beore the Industrial Revolution, the world's population increased very slowly , remaining under 25 0 million. By the beginning o the 19th c entury , the world population had grown to a bill ion individuals, leading intellectuals and economists to speculate that mankind would outgrow its avail- able resources. Tough, some non-intellectuals argued that a large population was a orm o wealth, which made it possible to creat e bigger markets and armies. Also, alot o them thought slavery and incest was a pretty good idea at the t ime. 5 Te human population has gone through a number o periods o growth since the dawn o civilization in the Holocene period, around 10,000 BCE. It is estimated that about 1,000,000 people, subsisting on hunting and oraging, inhabited the Earth in the p eriod beore the neolithic revolution, when human activity shifed away rom hunter-gathering and towards very primitive agriculture . Continued . . . The History of It All, Or, at of least overpopulation The Facts of the Matter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Facts of the Matter

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The population has been growing continuously ce the end o the Black Death, around the year 1400, al-

ough the most signicant increase has been in the last 50ars, due mainly to medical advancements and increases

agricultural productivity.ost estimates or what is called the carrying capacity o Earth are between 4 billion and 16 billion. So, it is quite

ssible that human overpopulation may have already oc-rred. Te population is expected to reach between 8 and5 billion between the year 2040 and 2050.e recent increase in human population over the past twonturies has raised concerns that the planet may not bee to sustain present or larger numbers o inhabitants.

has been stated that many environmental problems,ch as rising levels o atmospheric carbon dioxide, globalrming, and pollution, are aggravated by the populationpansion.

Other problems associated with overpopulation include increased demand or resources such as resh water and starvation and malnutrition, consumption o natural resaster than the rate o regeneration (such as ossil uels), a decrease in living conditions. However, some believe thwaste and over-consumption, especially by wealthy natioputting more strain on the environment than overpopul

Concern about overpopulation is relatively recent in origTroughout history, populations have grown slowly desphigh birth rates, due to the population-reducing eects oplagues and high inant mortality. During the 750 years the Industrial Revolution, the world's population increas very slowly, remaining under 250 million.

By the beginning o the 19th century, the world populatihad grown to a billion individuals, leading intellectuals aeconomists to speculate that mankind would outgrow itable resources. Tough, some non-intellectuals argued ta large population was a orm o wealth, which made it p

sible to create bigger markets and armies. Also, alot o tthought slavery and incest was a pretty good idea at the t

Te human population has gone through a number o po growth since the dawn o civilization in the Holoceneriod, around 10,000 BCE. It is estimated that about 1,000people, subsisting on hunting and oraging, inhabited thEarth in the period beore the neolithic revolution, when

man activity shifed away rom hunter-gathering and tow very primitive agriculture.Continued . . .

The History of It All,Or, at of least overpopulation

The Facts of the Matter

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