The spatial distribution of population is one of the most important topics of human geography. It is significantly important, because man has brought tremendous change over the earth surface.
At present, man is the single most important powerful geographical factor transforming the earth surface at an unparallel pace.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Scientific and technological achievements of man have reached dizzy heights and nothing now seems to be beyond his reach. Man has walked on the surface of the moon.
Scientists are at the threshold of achieving superconductivity, which will usher in revolutionary changes in global civilization.
Image Source: c4learn.com
Man has tools to change the climatic conditions. Man’s scientific advancements have resulted into acid rain, global warming, atmospheric pollution, ozone depletion, nuclear winter and nuclear radiation and have further threatened to destroy nature’s ecosystem across the world. The study of human population and its spatial patterns is thus of vital importance.
In the initial phase of human history and pre-history, the human population grew at a snail speed. The hazardous climatic conditions, the migratory character of hunters and gatherers and the poor nourishment were all unfavourable for the growth of population.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
During the last ten thousand years, the growth of world population accelerated at two distinct times.
The first was at about 10,000 years B.P. (before present) or 8000 B.C. when man started the domestication of plants and animals. This abrupt change in human activity is also known as Agricultural Revolution.
The assured supplies of food from agriculture and settled life provided better nourishment and the human body became more resistant to the adverse weather and climate.
Consequently, the human population started increasing at a steady pace. The second time when the population increased faster was in 1779 when man harnessed fossil fuels and developed steam engine. This development is known as Industrial Revolution.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Both the above mentioned developments in the human history had profound effects on the spatial distribution of population. These revolutions altered the population patterns and demographic attributes of the world as well.
The agricultural and industrial revolutions are important ecologically because population numbers and densities are at the heart of relationships between humans and natural environment.
If population numbers rise or fall, everything else is liable to change, including land use, settlement forms, economy, migration patterns and social mobility.
Before discussing the present distribution and density of population, it is of great interest to have a brief description of human population prior to the beginning of agriculture.