n was noticed to a much greater degree
by contemporary observers of Portugal. Unfortunately, no even
approximately accurate figures can be given. Two million is almost
certainly too large for 1600.

[Sidenote: General table]

The following statistical table will enable the reader to form some
estimate of the movements of population. Admitting that the margin of
error is fairly large in some of the earlier estimates, it is believed
that they are sufficiently near the truth to be of real service.

_Country 1500 1600_
England and Wales . . . . . . . . 3,000,000 4,100,000

Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500,000 700,000

The Netherlands (Holland and
Belgium) (1550) . . . . . . . . 3,000,000

Germany (including Austria, German
Switzerland, Franche Comte and
Savoy north of the Alps, but
excluding Hungary, the Netherlands,
East and West Prussia) . . . . . 12,000,000 20,000,000

France (1550) . . . . . . . . . . 16,000,000

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000,000 13,000,000

Spain (1557 and 1594) . . . . . . 9,000,000[1] 8,200,000

Poland with East and West Prussia 3,000,000

Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600,000

Sweden, Norway and Finland . . . . 1,400,000

[1] For a higher estimate--ten to twelve millions in 1500--see note in
bibliography.

SECTION 2. WEALTH AND PRICES

[Sidenote: Gigantic increase in wealth since 16th century]

If the number of Europe's inhabitants has increased fourfold since
Luther's time, the amount of her wealth has increased in a vastly
greater ratio. The difference {459} between the twentieth and the
sixteenth centuries is greater than anyone would at first blush believe
possible. Moreover it is a difference that is, during times of peace,
continually increasing. During the century from the close of the
Napoleonic to the opening of the Great War, the wealth of the white
races probably doubled every twenty-five years. The new factors that
made this possible were the exploited resources of America, and the
steam-engine. Prior to 1815 the increase of the world's wealth was
much slower, but if it doubled once a century,--as would seem not
improbable--we should have to allow that the world of 1914 was one
hundred and twenty-eight times as rich as it was i