Part A
To determine the percentage decline in population for Europe from 1300 to 1400:
1. Identify the initial and final populations in Europe:
- Population in Europe in 1300: [tex]\(70\)[/tex] million
- Population in Europe in 1400: [tex]\(52\)[/tex] million
2. Calculate the difference in population:
[tex]\[
\text{Decline in population} = 70 - 52 = 18 \text{ million}
\][/tex]
3. Calculate the percentage decline:
[tex]\[
\text{Percentage decline} = \left(\frac{18}{70}\right) \times 100 = 25.71\%
\][/tex]
Next, to determine the percentage decline in population for the Americas from 1500 to 1600:
1. Identify the initial and final populations in the Americas:
- Population in the Americas in 1500: [tex]\(42\)[/tex] million
- Population in the Americas in 1600: [tex]\(13\)[/tex] million
2. Calculate the difference in population:
[tex]\[
\text{Decline in population} = 42 - 13 = 29 \text{ million}
\][/tex]
3. Calculate the percentage decline:
[tex]\[
\text{Percentage decline} = \left(\frac{29}{42}\right) \times 100 = 69.05\%
\][/tex]
Comparison of Population Declines:
- Population decline in Europe from 1300 to 1400: [tex]\(25.71\%\)[/tex]
- Population decline in the Americas from 1500 to 1600: [tex]\(69.05\%\)[/tex]
Which region experienced a greater population decline?
The Americas experienced a greater population decline by [tex]\(69.05\%\)[/tex] compared to Europe's [tex]\(25.71\%\)[/tex].
Inference about the spread of disease due to global trade:
The significantly higher percentage decline in the population in the Americas during the Columbian Exchange era compared to Europe during the Black Death epidemic suggests that the introduction of new diseases through global trade had a more devastating impact on indigenous populations in the Americas. This was likely due to the Native American populations having no prior exposure or immunity to the diseases brought by European colonizers, leading to a catastrophic decline in population numbers.
