Human Population Modern humans evolved in Africa about 200,000 years ago. About 100,000 years ago, we began migrating across the globe. Our population remained low—probably less than 1 million people. With the advent of farming, growth picked up. By AD 1, world population reached approximately 170 million people. Year: AD 1, Human Population: 170 m. Han Dynasty Roman Empire, Human population: 177 m Silk Road Year: 300 AD, Human population: 180 m Golden Age of India Year: 500 AD, Human population: 177 m Peak Mayan Civilization Year: 600 AD, Human population: 181 m Birth of Islam Year: 750 AD, Human Population: 195 m Smallpox in Japan Year: 850 AD, Human population: 215 m Gunpowder invented Year: 1050 AD, Human population: 283 m Navigational compass Year: 1200 AD Human population: 362 m Mongol Empire Year: 1350, Human population: 364 m Bubonic plague Rare decline in world population, Year: 1490 AD, Human population: 405 m E...