Final answer:
Ishmael does not give a specific timeline for when the Take population will contract. The discussions revolve around historic and theoretical instances of population dynamics, including concepts like the 'Malthusian trap' and the unfulfilled predictions of 'The Population Bomb'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ishmael does not specifically mention a time when the Take population will contract. The excerpts provided discuss the impacts of plagues, famines, and the idea of population control through historical and theoretical lenses.
For instance, Thomas Malthus' theory, mentioned in the excerpts as the 'Malthusian trap', suggests that population growth tends to exceed the supply of food, leading to potential contraction due to resource scarcity.
Furthermore, historical accounts like those of the population during the Mongol siege of Kaifeng indicate that populations can contract dramatically during events such as epidemics and wars.
Paul R. Ehrlich's 'The Population Bomb' predicted dire consequences due to overpopulation, including mass starvation, but those predictions did not materialize as expected. Instead, the global population has continued to grow, doubling every thirty-five years.
According to Ehrlich, this growth rate poses a significant challenge to sustainability; however, he did not specify a timeline for when the population might contract.