If something happened to reduce the Earth's population by 90%, would the remaining 10% descend into stone age barbarism, or would we be able to retain our pinnacle of technology and be able to regain our lifestyles as modern human beings? Also, what would be the effect if the population of some continent, like Africa, Asia, Australia, etc, were to be wiped off the face of the Earth? Would we descend to squabbling over the remains and end up nuking ourselves to smithereens?
That is pretty much getting into science fiction, but I'll put my little grey cells to work on it and come up with some possibilities.
1. "If something happened to reduce the Earth's population by 90%, would the remaining 10% descend into stone age barbarism, or would we be able to retain our pinnacle of technology and be able to regain our lifestyles as modern human beings?"
I think that would depend on what 10% remained. If it was the remaining hunter/gatherer groups we might sink into stone age barbarism. They are still, to a large extent, in that condition. If a significant population from the developed countries remained there would probably be a sharp drop in technology, but enough would probably remain to let us develop an advanced science/technology relatively easily. We could skip the first 5,000 or 6,000 years of civilization to regain our edge.
2. "Also, what would be the effect if the population of some continent, like Africa, Asia, Australia, etc, were to be wiped off the face of the Earth? Would we descend to squabbling over the remains and end up nuking ourselves to smithereens?"
That one requires a much more science fictional answer. It would depend on which continent it was. If it was Australia, Africa, or South America it would be much less catastrophic. I'm not trying to be chauvinistic, but I don't think they are perceived to be of nearly as much worth to the Northern powers.
If it was Asia I don't think there would be much of anybody left to blow each other to smithereens. Asia would take out not only China but a large part of Russia.
If it was Europe I don't even want to try to figure out what would happen then.
If it was North America then Russia and China might get into it over the rest of the world. In that case it is quite possible that China would win.
Of course all of these scenarios depend on just what it was that caused the destruction. Different causes would bring about vastly different results.
Bill Gill