I have 2 parents, (had) 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 great- great grand parents etc. If every generation lasts approx 40 years then 400 years ago about 2 to the power 10 (1,024) people were alive who were my ancestors. Follow me so far?
2000 years ago, is about 40 generations ago. So 2 to the power 40 people must have been alive who were my ancestors. That's about 1million, million people. (one billion in the US, 1000 million in the UK).
But there simply weren't that many people on the earth at that time. So was everyone alive 2000 years ago my ancestor?
2006-08-08
04:24:34
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10 answers
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asked by
garden sunbather
1