Final answer:
The approximate population of Southwest Asia and North Africa is best estimated at around 500 million people, based on the historical and current demographics of the region, making option (c) the most appropriate choice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Population of Southwest Asia and North Africa
The approximate population of Southwest Asia and North Africa is a significant figure that is part of the global population statistics. The total population for this specific region can be challenging to pinpoint exactly due to varying data from different sources and the continuous changes in demographics.
However, considering the latest estimates for countries in this region, the total population approximation would fall into hundreds of millions rather than reaching a billion. Populations in prominent countries such as Egypt, Turkey, and Iran, which anchor the ethnic triangle of the Middle East as per the map illustrating the 2010 population estimates, contribute large numbers to this figure.
Additionally, it's essential to note the historical context; population sizes in continents such as Europe, Africa, and Asia have undergone significant changes since the 1500s, when their numbers were similar. Today, the population of Africa alone stands at over 1.3 billion people, demonstrating how dramatically populations can grow over centuries.
Based on the current demographic trends and available data, the best approximation for the population of Southwest Asia and North Africa would not be as high as one billion. Taking into account the populations of the major countries in the region, option (c) 500 million is the closest and most reasonable approximation among the choices given. The options of 100 million and 200 million appear to be significantly low, whereas the options of 1 billion and 700 million are overly high for this region's current population estimates.
In summary, the intersection of historical data and contemporary estimates allows us to make informed guesses on population sizes. Demographic indicators such as the number of inhabitants in major cities and countries within the region, combined with growth trends, help to make these educated estimations about the population of Southwest Asia and North Africa.