ABSTRACT
Population is one the most important variables in history. Demography encompasses the study of fluctuations in the numbers of persons over time; but also examines vital statistics (fertility, mortality, and life expectancy), migration, and a whole range of historical phenomena that affect those factors. As such, population studies may convey an overall sense of the popular well-being during any given period. It is one of the few disciplines that attempts to embrace all of the populace, from aristocrats down to slaves.
