Pulitzer Prize winner Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, written by Jared Diamond discusses in extended detail the advancement of mankind throughout its history. Anthropologist Diamond also brings to light an explanation as to why some societies advance more than others and are able to grow in population. He seeks to provide answers as to why some societies were able to conquer and defeat other societies and what allows for the development of modern societies. As such, Jared Diamond partially credits mans’ development into larger societies to domestication of plants and animals in section “Part Two: The Rise and Spread of Food Production.” Contrary to popular belief, agriculture did not evolve equally over Earth. Certain …show more content…
Diamond’s analysis is concise and easy to comprehend. He makes insightful points on the impact of agriculture as a weapon. He also reminds the reader that even though societies domesticated food, it did not necessary mean that they ceased hunting. It is important to note that hunting and agriculture co-existed among certain societies (102). Food production was a drawn out process, and in some areas, it did not occur until present day. Diamond neglects to mention certain downsides to food production, however. For instance, food production has a connection to the growth of specialization. Specialization encourages dependence for food from other sources. If the sources for food production fail, then those specialized in other skills are not able to create food for themselves (Pacheco). As previously mentioned, agriculture encourages the idea of property. Depending how one feels about capitalism, the notion of property has its own drawbacks, such as inequality. Hunter/gatherer societies were a part of true communism, which ensured everyone was fed equally (Pacheco). While modern day societies no longer function in that way, hunter/gatherer societies allowed for the protection of all members and thus
In the book, Guns Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond attempts to answer questions of conquest, such as why Eurasia conquered the Americas, and not the other way around. Diamond is a biologist by trade, and both impressed and disappointed the academic world with his new historian side. He believes the answer to western dominance lies in geography and the spread of guns, germs and steel. His theories had led him to be heavily critiqued by historians everywhere, including environmental historian J.R McNeil and Professor of Anthropology and Geography James Blaut. While Diamond provides solid ideas relating to the conquest of the New World, he often uses his scientistic background loosely with unclear supports forgetting other historical factors that
10th grade Advanced Placement World History II Summer Reading Assignment Since the last ice age, civilizations have progressed at different rates. Some developed literate societies with metal tools and innovative farming societies, while others developed illiterate hunting-gathering societies with improvised rock tools. But why has society advanced at such unlike proportions? This question, also known as Yali’s question, is the main focus of the book Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond.
The cooler climates and shorter growing seasons was not a good atmosphere for plants. The axis was also not suitable for crop diffusion because of the dry
Most historians consider many factors to piece together our planet’s past. When looking at the exploration of what was named “the New World,” they often point to the success of the conquistador’s missions and attribute it to their determination, skill, and weaponry. The film “Guns, Germs, and Steel” names the real reasons why the conquistadors were so successful on their missions. The empires of Central and South America did not have access to certain animals and had not advanced as far as the Europeans did in terms of weaponry. Additionally, they had never been exposed to the diseases that many animals carry.
Jared Diamond in his book titled Guns, Germs, and Steel tells about certain places in the world having more geographic luck than others and thus causing them to prosper. During the Civil War the North and the South were warring over state rights and slavery issues. While the industrial revolution fueled the creation of new inventions such as the steam engine, the south refused capitalize upon these new creations. When the North grew and continued to grow in its industrial strength, they began to make themselves a world power, causing the South to continue to mostly produce cotton and several other agricultural crops. The South didn’t provide many new technologies which limited there economic effect on trade and production.
Chapter Review (pg. 6-29) A: Human migration across the globe was the complete spread of the human species over much of the earth’s surface. The species began in eastern Africa; most types of humans come from this region, in the present day countries of Tazmania, Kenya, and Uganda. Main discoveries, especially fire and the use of animal skins for clothing-both of which allowed people to live in colder climates-facilitated the spread of Paleolithic groups. The first people moved out of Africa about 750,000 years ago.
Agriculture played a pivotal role in the evolution of human life, as well as revolutionize the globe to what it is today. Jared Diamond wrote a book that is called "Guns, Germs and Steel". In the book, he explains why some societies are materially successful than others. He attributes societal success to geography, immunity to germs, food production, the domestication of animals, and use of steel. Other parts of the globe, such as Europe While on a trip in New Guinea, one of the politicians named Yali, asked 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?", which made him write a book about it.
In response to the declining trade and vanishing cities, money became scarce. From 800 to 1200 CE however, the climate increased to better fit the requirements of farming. Farm production increased as a result of the climate change, the new three-field system, and the transfer from oxen to horsepower. Europe, which had earlier been described as a “region of poverty-stricken farming communities” (Doc. A) was filled with nutrient people.
In The Worst Hard Time, the author explains how new technology led to overproduction of many crops. A tractor was able to do the work of ten horses and a combine was able to thresh grain in one swoop. A farmer’s harvest could even go up by the thousands. As the farmers made more money they bought nearby land and ripped the grass out to make more space for more crops (Doc. C). With the overproduction of land came bare fields.
In three of the world's oldest civilizations, the development of Agriculture proved surprisingly similar. Despite long distances between each culture, especially in the case of Mesoamerica, all three developed “staple” crops that proved very important for their food sources (BBC, FAO, Nair, National Geographic). While China and the Indus River Valley domesticated various animals for food, Mesoamerica did not rely on domesticated animals nearly as much (BBC, Nair), not even for labor (FAO). Although the types of crops they grew resulted in different diets for all three civilizations, the Neolithic Revolution remained the fundamental basis for all their nutritional development (BBC, FAO, Nair). Even with various different features in climate,
In the article The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race the author Jared Diamond explains how the development of agriculture in humanity affected the evolution of our modern society for the worst. He proved this thesis with sufficient points, however, the scientific evidence behind the Luddites’ beliefs are limited. The corroboration behind agricultural advancements being a substantial step for mankind is far more concrete than the opposing side. Livestock and cultivating vegetation was the most significant switch humanity has taken, and molded our world to what it is today. Paleopathologists have recorded that the health statuses of people became critically worse after the Neolithic Period, when civilizations switched to
Jared Diamond wrote Guns, Germs and Steel to prove that some civilizations are more advanced than others because of the environment around them. AJ Mills Chapter 1 summary: Up to the Starting Line In this
Hunter gatherer/ Agriculturalist essay Hunter gatherers and agriculturalists are different and the same in some ways. Their population is the basically the same because there was never that many people. They had the men do the work mainly. Neither one of them didn't have much technology at the beginning.
Have you ever wondered what Agricultural Revolution was and if it had a positive or negative effect on human civilization? Well, the Agricultural Revolution had a huge effect on civilization. It was when humans discovered how to farm! This took place from about 10,000 B.C to about 3,000 B.C. I believe it had a positive effect on human civilization for a couple of reasons.
Yet other historians believe that certain challenges (possibly environmental) forced humans to develop an organized and civilized society. Overall, however, all theories agree on the fact that civilizations were a response to sustain the needs and beliefs of growing human societies. For example, these establishments allowed for an emphasis on a distinct religious structure, a social division based on affluence, as well as an economy that focused largely on trade with neighboring peoples. Such aspects would not have been present in prior small agricultural settlements, since they are much smaller (in size comparison) and less complex. 2.