A "Brief" History of Overpopulation

Many of the issues addressed in the classroom relate to the topic of human population. For example, the discussion on genetics and human cloning relates directly to the constantly-growing global population. Renewable energy sources are being explored because the demand for fossil fuels is extremely high. Even the atomic bomb, which made such an impact that it ended WWII, was a result of the significant loss of a population. There are, of course, other issues not addressed in class that pertain to overpopulation. Other issues that become more prevalent with the ever-increasing global population include abortion, poverty, energy conservation, and environmental impacts. This list goes on, stemming into governmental legislation, global warming problems, education concerns, and the general quality of life. The question today is how do we as people deal with ... ourselves? To understand the question, it is important to first understand how we got where we are.

It is believed that the human species is at least 3 million years old. For the majority of this time, humans survived as hunters and gatherers, which kept their numbers low. As agriculture was introduced, and communities evolved, however, the numbers began to increase.

The word that best describes how the population grows is demographics. Demographics, according to Webster, is defined as "relating to the dynamic balance of a population, especially with regard to density and capacity for expansion or decline." It is this "expansion or decline" that has time and again severely affected the world population. Some drastic affects to various populations are briefly explained below:

The most notable population change in recent history was the Black Death, a plague that swept the nations of Europe from 1347 to 1352. Left in its deadly path were 25 million people - one third of Europe's population. Also called the Bubonic Plague, the disease originated from China, one of the world's busiest trading nations. It spread quickly, usually infecting rats, but it was also transmitted to people by fleas. Symptoms included fever and a painful swelling of the lymph glands, called buboes, which is how the disease received its name. The disease also forms red spots on the skin that eventually turn black. In the 1300's, death was usually the end result, due to crude medicinal practices and limited specialists.

So, when did overpopulation become realized as a problem of global scale? There are a series of factors that contribute to greater populations, but the three main contributions are: birth rate, death rate, and migration.

Populations began to drastically grow during the Industrial Revolution, when the standard of living was raised. It was not that the birth rate was so high, but more the fact that the death rate was so low. New farming and transportation technologies increased the food supply, lessening the possibility of famine. Advancements in medicine and economic status improved public health. The overall quality of life improved, which contributed to a boom in population, the effects of which are still occurring even today. Shown at right is a graph of global population from 1750 projected up till 2150, provided by the United Nations. It is clear from this graph that the skyrocketing growths in population have occurred within the last 100 years. Estimates vary, but it is expected that the world will continue to add approximately 76 million people a year.

So, with such drastic increases in the population, what, if anything is being done to control it? Should we be concerned? A more in-depth look is required to understand just how populations work. Read the "Technical" section to understand the "how" and "why."