Unit I

This section of the book presents contemporary understanding of the history and trajectory of the size, spatial distribution, demographic characteristics, and mobility of the human population. Chapter 1 looks at the past—where did we come from and a precis of the evolving human origin story. Chapter 2 looks at the present—how did we grow in size and spatial distribution and how do we map patterns of demographic attributes around the world today? Chapter 3 explores demographic patterns in greater detail and looks to the future—how do we use geodemographic data characterizing the current population to make projections about what human presence will look like in the future. Unit I essentially presents our knowledge of facts about human demography while raising some poignant and contested questions related to social, economic, and environmental impacts. Unit II summarizes our current understanding of the processes that drive demographic change and how those changes mutually interact with social, economic, and environmental forces. Unit III explores some of the “wicked problems,” trade-offs, contested values, and debates that naturally result from knowledge and understanding of the patterns and processes of the socioecological systems manifest on the earth today.