Demographic Collapse: Indian Peru, 1520–1620

by Noble David Cook

• ISBN13: 9780521523141
• ISBN10: 0521523141
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-08
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

While many scholars have been interested in the size of the Indian population of the Americas at the time of first contact with Europeans, this book is the first to make a thorough examination of the question. Focusing on Peru, Professor Cook estimates population size on the basis of archaeology, carrying capacity of the agricultural systems, disease mortality, depopulation ratios, and census projection. He also analyses the catastrophic population decline that resulted from contact with Europeans, and compares this experience with that of the coastal region and the Andean highlands.

Table of Contents

List of tables, figures and maps

Preface

Introduction: the problem in perspective

Part I. Peru's Preconquest Population: 1. The ecological approach

2. Population and archaeology

3. Depopulation ratios

4. Estimates from social organization

5. Disease mortality models

6. Census projections

7. Conclusion

Part II. Demographic Collapse: 8. First contact: north coast

9. Center of Spanish control: middle coast

10. Disease, earthquakes, and droughts: south coast

11. Intermediate area: northern highlands

12. Mining and population in the central sierra

13. The Indian heartland: southern highlands

14. An overview

Abbreviations used in notes

Notes

Bibliography

Index.