Demography

[Kublai-Khan]

I ´d like to to ask if someone knows
where can i find info about ancient world demography.
For example
i have 3 books about ancient Rome
and in one it says that its population was of 1 million unhabitants,
in another 250.000 and in the last one 500000.
I am just starting to
create scenarios(i am a rookie)
and it is really difficult to be accurate
with that kind of information.

And
what programs do you use to create scenarios?
Wich is the best Alexsander the great scenario?
Any goos web-page with info about ancient persia?

Well , that is all
is hope i didn´t bother you all

And excuse me cuz my english sucks-

 

[joespaniel]

For historic facts, MSN Encarta is fairly reliable. Also, for modern info, the CIA Factbook. I hope this helps.

 

[Andu Indorin]

Part of the disparity between your sources may be the date at which they are measuring the population of Rome. According to one source I have, Rome's population was c. 180,000 in 260 B.C. (justs prior to the beginning of her conflict with Carthage). According to another source, as the capital of her empire, Rome had reached a population estimated at 1,000,000 by 200 A.D.

 

[andycapp]

I can recommend the 'Atlas of World Population History' by Colin McEvedy and Richard Jones. Published by Penguin Books (first published in 1978).

Like most reference material of this kind it is guesstimates based on available information and subject to constant revision as new information becomes available.