Week One: Demography Begins

(Essay Questions)

Giovanni Botero. [1588] 1985. The cause of the greatness of cities.

• What does Botero mean by "virtue nutritive" and "virtue generative"? Are these part of human nature or products of culture?
• What limits the size of a city-state--the "virtue nutritive" or the "virtue generative"? How does Botero see the effects of each?
• Does Botero think that growth of a city's population is a good or bad thing? What determines how long such growth can continue?

Benjamin Franklin. [1755] 1985. Observations concerning the increase of mankind and the peopling of countries.

• What argument does Franklin use to suggest that England should allow industry and factories in the American colonies?
• How, according to Franklin, does owning slaves affect the number of children that slave-owners bear? Why does this happen?
• Explain how Franklin views the economic costs of slavery (compared to paid labor), and also what he has to say about its social costs.