CHAPTER I

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HISTORICAL 17

(1) Problems of population fall under two headings—quantitative and qualitative; the former have long attracted attention; the latter have, until recently, only sporadically aroused interest. (2) Numbers were discussed in a restricted sense in Greece and Rome, but it was not until the sixteenth century (3) that quantitative problems were considered from a modern point of view when (4) a dense population was generally held to be advantageous. (5) This view was not everywhere accepted, and (6) the relation between numbers and the food-supply was from time to time discussed, and the position of Malthus more or less anticipated. (7) In 1798 Malthus published his book, which (8) was favourably received. (9) Neomalthusian propaganda, though not approved by Malthus, began early. (10) Darwin and Wallace were influenced by Malthus in founding the hypothesis of natural selection, and from 1858 onwards qualitative problems have come to assume an equally important place.