Question 1.
A. For large populations: When the settlers came to the new world they encountered many large civilizations abundant with people. Hernando de Soto witnessed 50 settlements when he explored the strip of the Mississippi. Soto described the region as having clusters of small cities, earthen walls and several thousand Indian warriors. (Pg. 45) Another example of the great magnitude of the Indian populations were the Caddo community cemeteries. Sado claimed when he visited the Caddo that their population consisted of 200,000 people. (Pg. 45) he also witnessed public platforms and mausoleums in the great city. Hernan Cortes claimed that the Aztec capitol of Tenochtitlan was larger than the city of Paris and the streets could hold thousands of men commuting around the city. (pg. 49)
B. Against Large Populations: By the time that the English began inhabiting the new world, researchers claim that 95% of the Indian population was wiped out by European diseases but many experts claim that immense Indian populations are just "Wishful thinking" because of the lack of evidence.
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It is believed that the Indians modified the environment because of abundance of game (Bison and carrier pigeons) in America after their disappearance. It is believed that the Indians were keystone species who controlled the number of game based on their hunting habits. (Pg. 53) When the later settlers came into America they noticed that there were multitudes of bison and pigeons to hunt. While early settlers claimed that these multitudes did not exist while the Indian population was thriving in the New World. (pg. 53) This was a direct example of how the Indians had a large effect on the control of prey in the environment. Other environmentalists observe how the Indians would use fire to control the brush and influence the grow of crops. These controlled burnings went on for hundreds of years and enabled the environment to grow and flourish under the watch and control of the