Chapter I: Page

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.