* Admittedly the Brits where total shits to the Irish during their histories but what no one ever mentions is the overwhelming disparity in population size when the idea of Catholic and Protestant meant something. Back in 1600 eeny weeney teeney Britain was facing a bunch of continental Catholic behemoths. Looks like roughly 5 million Brits and Scots facing roughly 50 million continental Catholics with the Germans living in the chaos of the Hundred Years War. So the tiny Brits had the Irish, the jewel in the Vatican’s crown, at their back, a real live Fifth column.
Britain’s later success as a world empire makes them appear to be Goliath stomping on poor Paddy but the Brit’s first entry onto the world stage was as a Protestant pipsqueak and they compensated accordingly, not giving the Irish any breathing room.
British Isles:
England in 1600 had 4.2 million; by 1650, 5.5 million. As of 1700, it was down to 5.2 million (the really big growth didn’t start until after 1750).
Scotland, 1 million in 1600, 1 million in 1650, 1.2 million in 1700.
Ireland, 1 million in 1600, 1.5 million in 1650, 2 million in 1700.
France: 20 million in 1600, 20.5 million in 1650.
Spain: 8.10 million in 1600; 7.1 million in 1650.
Portugal: 1.1 million in 1600; 1.2 million in 1650.
Austria-Bohemia: 4.3 million in 1600; 4.1 million in 1650.
Poland: 3.4 million in 1600; 3 million in 1650.
Switzerland: .9 million in 1600; 1 million in 1650.
Italian peninsula altogether: 13.1 million in 1600; 11.3 million in 1650.
