...biologist, Jared Diamond, published Guns, Germs, and Steel, sparking debate among anthropologists and other academics. Winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize and New York Times bestseller, Guns, Germs, and Steel is arguably one of the most controversial novels of its genre, for Diamond’s futile attempt to explain why human development proceeded at such different rates on different continents has resulted in critical responses among scientists. In his novel, Diamond explains that civilization is exclusively the consequence of climatic and environmental imperatives, contending that the polities allowing for expansion and technological advances in human society are attributed to geography, food production, the domestication...
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...In the video, Jared Diamond explains that the three major elements that separate the world's "haves" from the "have nots" are guns, germs, and steel. These are the same elements that the Spaniards used to their advantage during their conquest of the Inca empire. Diamond had a theory about geographic luck, which basically means that where you are born is what dictates how much of an advantage you will have due to your surrounding environment. A key element in geographic luck includes domesticated animals which led to greater productivity; the majority of domesticated animals were indigenous to the mild climates of the world where powerful civilizations then developed. Because of their geographic location, Europeans were the first to obtain...
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...New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?” (14). One commonly espoused answer is the varying intelligence based on genetics (19). Jared Diamond disputes this by stating that evidence that “human differences in intelligence…parallel human differences in technology is lacking” (19). He also states that, in example, New Guineans who were raised in remote villages and were unschooled may seem stupid to Westerners in large cities. In contrast, when Westerners who visit remote villages in New Guinea seem stupid to the local population (20). The varying definitions and types of intelligent make it unreasonable to compare intelligence of genetically varying people, especially from different environments. Another commonly espoused answer is the differences in climate stimulate human energy and creativity to develop technology. Cold climates encourages one to build a warm home and clothing, while in hotter climates, simpler homes and less clothing(22). Diamond, however, states that, also in example, the people of northern Europe did not create anything important to the Eurasian civilizations until the last couple thousands of years, and simply had the luck to live in an environment that would receive...
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...evolution and development of human life and their living conditions led to inequality among different groups of people and different parts of the world. As a result, there are many pieces of literature including books, journals, among others, which explain different historical events (Diamond, 1999). However, some historical books or articles do not address historical issues fully especially historical factors that led to high development in some areas while leaving others highly underdeveloped. However, Guns, germs and steel: The fates of human societies, a book written by Jared diamond is totally different and unique historical book in contrast to other historical books. This is because in his book Gun, germs and steel: The fates of human societies, Jared examined all historical events that happened in the last 13,000 years. However, unlike other historical books, Jared applied different methods and materials including scientific ones so as to ensure that he covers all necessary information and that every reader understands him properly. Another unique feature of this book is that unlike others, which focus on specific place, people or event, this book is focused on the entire human race (Diamond, 1999). This placed it in a neutral position as every reader comprehends that it has no any sign of racism or favor. This book is not only exciting, but also easy to understand as it covers everything in details while giving real life examples from all parts of the world. The book...
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...Inequality [pic] An Overview of Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel Why do some nations have so much material wealth while so many others have so little? This was the question Jared Diamond posed in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel. After identifying a point in time when all societies were roughly equal (over 13,000 years ago), Diamond identified the key variables that allowed some societies to develop highly complex, material-rich societies, while others developed at much slower rates. Guns, Germs, and Steel uncovers how Europeans came to dominate every other group on the planet by virtue of their access to what Diamond terms the “Agents of Conquest”: Guns, Germs, and Steel. Jared Diamond’s journey of discovery began on the island of Papua, New Guinea. There, in 1974, a local named Yali asked Diamond a deceptively simple question: "Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo (material goods), but we black people had little cargo (material goods) of our own?" Diamond realized that Yali's question penetrated the heart of a great mystery of human history -- the roots of global inequality. Why were Europeans the ones with all the cargo? Why had they taken over so much of the world, instead of the native people of New Guinea? How did Europeans end up with what Diamond terms the Agents of Conquest: Guns, Germs and Steel? It was these agents of conquest that allowed 168 Spanish conquistadors to...
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...According to Jared Diamond, Eurasian people dominate the world now because of geography. Europe and the Middle East had good soil, plenty of easily domesticated animals and plants, and a main axis running east-west, instead of north-south – meaning that crops, livestock and tools could spread easily, without confronting big changes in climate or day length. The world’s first farming societies emerged, leading to bigger settlements— meaning that people did not need to travel to find food. Instead, they began to live in settled communities, and grew crops and/or raised animals on nearby land. They built stronger, more permanent homes and surrounded their settlements with walls to protect themselves; one of the largest settlements in the Middle East was called Catal Huyuk which became wealthy (because of a glassy rock made from volcanos) from its farming and trading which meant the needs for markets, the need for protection and the concentration of political power. Meanwhile, humans living among farm animals developed immunity to the diseases they carried. By the time they encountered other societies, their military power, metal tools and, above all, their deadly germs gave them the decisive advantage. But Diamond is not really talking about axes; mostly he is making a rather subtle argument about the climatic advantages that (in his view) mid-latitude regions have over tropical regions. The world's largest continuous zone of "temperate" climates lies in a belt stretching across...
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...Pizarro were able to take over the cities of the native people of the Americas. The advantage they had were their cannons, firearms, steel sword, armor and horses; but their potent weapon turn out to be their own germs. Since the native people of the Americas didn’t know what all of these advantages were, their population weakened. In the book Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond shows how the common cold and other germs played as much a role as anything else. In the article “World History for Behavior Analysts: Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Stuart A Vyse explains more about the struggles the native people went through and how they were defeated. Peoples of Eurasian origin, plus those...
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...Guns, Germs And Steel JARED DIAMOND W. W. Norton & Company, 1999 Word Count: 774 How did guns, germs, and steel shape the history of the world? Jared Diamond’s journey to discover equality began in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. In the Prologue Diamond tells the readers about how he became intrigued when Yali, his New Guinean friend posed the question: “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?” (Pg. 14) When Yali talks about cargo he is referring to technology i.e. tools, accessories, and other complicated inventions. So Diamond rephrases the question as such: “Why did human development proceed at such different rates on different continents?” (Pg. 16) Yali’s question gets Diamond motivated to research and write this book on the history of everyone for the past 13,000 years. He attempts to peel back the layers of the past like an onion and explore the roots of power in the modern world. The question motivating the book is that: “Why did history unfold differently on different continents?” (Pg. 9) Diamond has traveled the world for the past 30 years looking for answers to eventually come up with this well thought out theory to this question; it is not because of intelligence due to racial differences but rather environmental differences. As stated before this book emphasizes on the search for ultimate explanations, and on pushing the causes of history as far back as possible...
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...In the book Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond a man by the name Yali was walking along a beach as was Jared Diamond. As they were walking together, Yali asked Diamond, “Why is it you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea but we black people had little cargo of our own.” This questioned could be answered in many different ways. One explanation could be genes. Many people believe Europeans have the best genes, that they are “biologically different.” Diamond believes genes has nothing to do with it. He says how stone age people can be smarter than industrialists. Also Europeans have many forms of entertainment, while places like New Guinea have no passive entertainment. Another explanation is climate. Yali believes...
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...Information about the Book: Guns, Germs, and Steel was written by author, anthropologist, ecologist, geographer, and physiologist Jared Diamond and published in 1997 by W. W. Norton & Company. It has 480 pages, and has won the Phi Beta Kappa Award in 1997 for Science and the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 for General Nonfiction. Later in 2005, a documentary based off the book was produced by the National Geographic Society and was broadcast on PBS. What is the book about? Guns, Germs, and Steel starts off with a simple question asked by Jared’s friend, a local New Guinea politician named Yali: “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo [goods] and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?”[p.14]....
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...Name:_______________________________________________ Viewing Guide: Teacher’s Answer Key Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 2 Date:______________ Directions: Before viewing the film, read each question below so you know what information and ideas you should be looking for as you watch Episode 2. Record your answers to each question by providing as many facts, details, and examples as possible to answer each question. Be prepared to discuss your answers with the class. 1. At the time that the Spanish conquistador’s invaded the Inca Empire, they were armed with state of the art weaponry. Describe this weaponry. Answers will vary but should include: horses that made them appear like god-like half man, half beast warriors, body armor, guns, and steel swords. 2. What is Jared Diamond’s explanation for why the Spanish had advanced to steel swords while Inca’s were still making tools and weapons from bronze? Answer: Because Europe was geographically close to the Fertile Crescent, they inherited the 7,000 years of metal technology that had been developed there. Because they had a diversified society that allowed for specialization, the Spanish devoted time and effort to producing the longest, strongest, sharpest swords possible. 3. How did the battle tactics used by the Spanish conquistadors help the small army defeat the Inca army that outnumbered it by the thousands? Answer: The Spaniards begin by surprising the Incas, firing their guns and coming out of hiding on horseback. As they rode, the conquistadors...
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...From the opening line of the preface, Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel is nothing if not an ambitious work: “This book attempts to provide a short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years” (Diamond, 9). This is a bit misleading, however, as Diamond’s motivation is not simply to provide an overview of our species since the dawn of civilization; his aim is to answer the question of “why history unfolded differently on different continents” (Diamond, 9). In the near five-hundred pages of the book, he makes a valiant effort to answer the question in terms of geography (with the adjoining environmental explanations). Indeed, his argument is exceptionally persuasive, and provides strong evidence that Eurasia’s dominance over other parts...
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...nations around the world. Jared Diamond, on the other hand, uses this distinctive explanation to express how and why these nations around the world developed the way they did and what impacts, such as guns, germs and steel, effected them. By beginning his journey at the earliest stages of agriculture, Diamond is able to explain why certain nations and continents thrived and why others perished because of their geographical location. Agriculture can be described as nothing but the earths blessing for those that lived in certain geographical areas that were fertile and significant for agricultural practices. By being so geographically fortuitous, such as people who were around the Fertile Crest, began to master agricultural...
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...In Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel, the author proves a point that the formation of human history developed differently all over the globe because of science. Jared Diamond explained how this is true using facts from science. The author wrote that, “The fourth and last set of factors consists of continental differences in area or total population size. A larger area or population means more potential inventors, more competing societies, more innovations available to adopt- and more pressure to adopt and retain innovations, because societies failing to do so will tend to be eliminated by competing societies. That fate befell African pygmies and many other hunter-gatherer populations displaced by farmers. Conversely, it also befell...
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...In this chapter of Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, he talks about how Eurasians invented firearms and steel equipment instead of the Sub –Saharan Africans. Diamond also talks about how most inventions that were made took a long time until it became widespread and popular. His opinion is that inventions are only made because something in the society isn’t “clicking”. Diamond talks about how an invention is made and after it is made, the inventor actually has to find a purpose for it, and how its because of curiosity and tinkering that it is made. Only after a long period of time passed when the society actually considered the invention needed. Rare geniuses like Watt and Edison were very important according to Diamond, because of the “heroic theory of invention”, and how an inventor must prove that the idea came from them to begin with. Many inventors fed off of other inventors inventions and made their own, very similar to the original invention. This was like a train, each inventor would feed off of the other inventions to make their own. Diamond argues that ideas and inventions depend on the type of society and how well the society is doing or will be doing over a long period of time. Diamond also argues that...
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