alt Hacker NewsDo you think that the British had an accurate census of the populations of all the places they were conquering on their attempt at world conquest in the 1600s-1800s?
Replies
Nope, and it didn't matter.
You need to know military, not population size (how quickly can a militia be raised, how long can it be sustained, how well they are armed, who can be persuaded to defect, etc.). This is related to population size, but not linearly.
Population counts get only interesting for military and tax potential during administration of a territory.
GP's point is valid, though, imho.
The British state did not do most of the conquering, companies did and the government moved in later. India was originally taken by the East India Company.
In your honest opinion, is current colonialism in /that/ country that is doing genocide more or less effective than South African apartheid?
Do you think they have an accurate census now? Isn’t this the very subject the author is trying to outline?