To solve this problem, we need to analyze the population changes in Europe from 1300 to 1400 and in the Americas from 1500 to 1600, and then calculate their respective percentage declines.
Step-by-Step Solution:
### Part A: Population Decline in Europe
#### Population Data:
- Year 1300 (Europe): 70
- Year 1400 (Europe): 52
#### Calculation of Decline:
1. Subtract the Population:
\( \text{Population decline} = 70 - 52 = 18 \)
2. Divide the Difference by the Initial Population:
\( \frac{18}{70} = 0.2571428571428571 \)
3. Multiply by 100 to get the Percentage Decline:
\( 0.2571428571428571 \times 100 = 25.71428571428571 \% \)
So, the population in Europe declined by approximately \( 25.71\% \) from 1300 to 1400.
### Part B: Population Decline in the Americas
#### Population Data:
- Year 1500 (Americas): 42
- Year 1600 (Americas): 13
#### Calculation of Decline:
1. Subtract the Population:
\( \text{Population decline} = 42 - 13 = 29 \)
2. Divide the Difference by the Initial Population:
\( \frac{29}{42} = 0.6904761904761905 \)
3. Multiply by 100 to get the Percentage Decline:
\( 0.6904761904761905 \times 100 = 69.04761904761905 \% \)
So, the population in the Americas declined by approximately \( 69.05\% \) from 1500 to 1600.
### Comparison and Inference
By comparing the two percentage declines:
- Decline in Europe: \( 25.71\% \)
- Decline in the Americas: \( 69.05\% \)
The Americas experienced a greater population decline than Europe. This suggests that the spread of disease due to global trade, particularly during the Columbian Exchange era, had a more severe impact on the population in the Americas compared to Europe. This could be due to several factors, such as the introduction of new diseases to which the indigenous population in the Americas had little or no immunity.
