Contents
Introduction
Preface
[3d
WEIGHT OF NUMBERS
Guessing the world population
Ebb and flow, 32 - The lack of statistics, 34 - How to
calculate? 38 - The equivalence of Europe and China,
39 — World population, 40 - Questionable figures, 41
- The relationship between the centuries, 46 - The
old inadequate explanations, 47 - Climatic rhythms,
49.
A scale of reference
Towns, armies and navies, 51 - A France prematurely
overpopulated, 54 ~ Density of population and level
of civilization, 56 — Other points inferred from
Gordon W. Hewes™ map, 62 — Wild men and ani-
mals, 64.
The cighteenth century: watershed of biological
regimes
Preserving the balance, 71 - Famine, 73 - Epidemics,
78 — The plague, 83 - The cycle of diseases, 88 — 1.400
1800: a long-lasting biological ancien regime, go.
I'he many against the few
Against the barbarians, 93 - The disappearance of the
great nomads before the seventeenth century, 94
I'he conquest of space, 98 — The resistance of cultures,
roo - Civilization against civilization, 102.
DAILY BREAD
Wheat
Wheat and other grains, 109 - Wheat and crop rota-
tion, 114 - Low yields, compensations and disasters,
120 - Increased cultivation and higher yields, 122 -
Local and international trade in grain, 124 - Grain
and calories, 129 - The price of grain and the standard
[ Op
[O08