RangerWickett
Legend
About how many people did there used to be?
I'm thinking about my world, and I'm guestimating how many people live in each country. I vaguely recall hearing statistics that only a few hundred million people were alive in the world until the 16th century or so, but I was hoping the smart folks on the boards here would know more about historical populations than I do. I know about the Magical Medieval Society book, and though I think I was generously given a free copy once, soon thereafter I had to format my computer.
Some questions.
What was the total world population in the 13th century? What about just in Europe, Asia, etc?
How big would a city be? How many big cities would you find in your typical nation, or a large empire?
If you had 40,000 people living in a major city, how many people would likely be living in surrounding lands in the countryside?
As an added bonus, here's something I posted a long time ago, that I still find somewhat entertaining.
On the local CBS station in my home city, every week they publicize a ‘home-town hero,’ someone who is notable for the good deeds they do. Flipping through the DM’s Guide, I decided to figure out just what levels these heroes ought to be. This is the write-up of my home city, of Beaumont, by D&D 3e rules. This could easily be used for any large-sized city, since it seems to fit a fantasy medieval setting better than it does a modern Earth setting.
Metropolis (pop: 125,000+)
GP limit: 100,000 gp
Ready cash available: 625,000,000 gp
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Non-player Characters by Class:
Adept: (52) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level.
Aristocraft: (30) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level.
Barbarian: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Bard: (108) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level, fifty-six 1st level.
Cleric: (108) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level, fifty-six 1st level.
Commoner: (60) Four 20th level, eight 11th level, sixteen 5th level, thirty-two 2nd level.
Druid: (108) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level, fifty-six 1st level.
Expert: (60) Four 20th level, eight 11th level, sixteen 5th level, thirty-two 2nd level.
Fighter: (124) One 20th level, one 18th level, two 17th level, two 10th level, two 9th level, four 8th level, four 5th level, twelve 4th level, thirty-two 2nd level, sixty-four 1st level.
Monk: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Paladin: (62) One 15th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Ranger: (62) One 15th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Rogue: (124) One 20th level, one 18th level, two 17th level, two 10th level, two 9th level, four 8th level, four 5th level, twelve 4th level, thirty-two 2nd level, sixty-four 1st level.
Sorcerer: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Warrior: (124) One 20th level, one 18th level, two 17th level, two 10th level, two 9th level, four 8th level, four 5th level, twelve 4th level, thirty-two 2nd level, sixty-four 1st level.
Wizard: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
That’s 1270 notable characters, counting only PC classes and those members of NPC classes that are 2nd level or higher. Out of the remaining 123,730 people:
In a similar town, most people you’d meet would be commoners, but about one in a thousand would be higher-level. You’d think that you’d have heard of some of these high-level wizards, but apparently they’re all abjurationists who focus on hiding themselves. Many of these high-level “home-town heroes” might not even be heroic, but whatever moral code they espouse, you can be sure they go about most of their business in secret. Are you a home-town hero?
I'm thinking about my world, and I'm guestimating how many people live in each country. I vaguely recall hearing statistics that only a few hundred million people were alive in the world until the 16th century or so, but I was hoping the smart folks on the boards here would know more about historical populations than I do. I know about the Magical Medieval Society book, and though I think I was generously given a free copy once, soon thereafter I had to format my computer.
Some questions.
What was the total world population in the 13th century? What about just in Europe, Asia, etc?
How big would a city be? How many big cities would you find in your typical nation, or a large empire?
If you had 40,000 people living in a major city, how many people would likely be living in surrounding lands in the countryside?
As an added bonus, here's something I posted a long time ago, that I still find somewhat entertaining.
On the local CBS station in my home city, every week they publicize a ‘home-town hero,’ someone who is notable for the good deeds they do. Flipping through the DM’s Guide, I decided to figure out just what levels these heroes ought to be. This is the write-up of my home city, of Beaumont, by D&D 3e rules. This could easily be used for any large-sized city, since it seems to fit a fantasy medieval setting better than it does a modern Earth setting.
Metropolis (pop: 125,000+)
GP limit: 100,000 gp
Ready cash available: 625,000,000 gp
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Non-player Characters by Class:
Adept: (52) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level.
Aristocraft: (30) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level.
Barbarian: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Bard: (108) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level, fifty-six 1st level.
Cleric: (108) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level, fifty-six 1st level.
Commoner: (60) Four 20th level, eight 11th level, sixteen 5th level, thirty-two 2nd level.
Druid: (108) Two 17th level, one 16th level, one 14th level, six 8th level, two 7th level, twelve 4th level, four 3rd level, twenty-four 2nd level, fifty-six 1st level.
Expert: (60) Four 20th level, eight 11th level, sixteen 5th level, thirty-two 2nd level.
Fighter: (124) One 20th level, one 18th level, two 17th level, two 10th level, two 9th level, four 8th level, four 5th level, twelve 4th level, thirty-two 2nd level, sixty-four 1st level.
Monk: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Paladin: (62) One 15th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Ranger: (62) One 15th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Rogue: (124) One 20th level, one 18th level, two 17th level, two 10th level, two 9th level, four 8th level, four 5th level, twelve 4th level, thirty-two 2nd level, sixty-four 1st level.
Sorcerer: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
Warrior: (124) One 20th level, one 18th level, two 17th level, two 10th level, two 9th level, four 8th level, four 5th level, twelve 4th level, thirty-two 2nd level, sixty-four 1st level.
Wizard: (62) One 16th level, three 14th level, two 8th level, six 7th level, four 4th level, twelve 3rd level, thirty-two 1st level.
That’s 1270 notable characters, counting only PC classes and those members of NPC classes that are 2nd level or higher. Out of the remaining 123,730 people:
- 91% (112,594) are 1st level commoners. This includes the adolescents of the community.
- 5% (6168) are 1st level warriors. This probably includes various thugs and gang members, and beginning members of the police force.
- 3% (3712) are 1st level experts. Such experts are probably managers of shops, teaching assistants, skilled cooks, and so on.
- Half a percent (618) are 1st level aristocrats. These rich punks went to the preppy high school that everyone made fun of.
- And finally, half a percent (618) are 1st level adepts. Imagine people in your neighborhood who tried to teach themselves voodoo or witchcraft. If they ever managed to pull off any spells, they were so minor you never noticed.
In a similar town, most people you’d meet would be commoners, but about one in a thousand would be higher-level. You’d think that you’d have heard of some of these high-level wizards, but apparently they’re all abjurationists who focus on hiding themselves. Many of these high-level “home-town heroes” might not even be heroic, but whatever moral code they espouse, you can be sure they go about most of their business in secret. Are you a home-town hero?
