Critical Analysis of Guns, Germs, and Steel did they conquer other regions of the world instead of the other way around? In the past, some researchers have taken a racist approach and suggested that the answer lies in the fact that Eurasians had superior intelligence, moral law, and genetics. Diamond refutes this argument and expands on other reasons for Eurasia's global domination. He takes a very logical syllogistic approach and ends with a compelling conclusion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay For example, in order to get the answer to the question above, he asks, “Why did Native Americans die from European contagions while Europeans did not?” I will not die from Native American diseases. Diamond then works to develop a multifaceted response. First, any European who was active during the discovery and colonization of the New World had ancestors who had already survived the Black Death. This meant that they had a genetic disposition to resist or recover from diseases, as well as the antibodies that provided immunization. It was the antibodies that protected them, not the DNA of the Europeans. Second, in the centuries before the discovery of the Americas, Europe consisted of cities (as well as rural environments) that were home to a variety of domestic animals. In towns and villages, people interacted closely with each other. Far more animals were domesticated in Europe and Asia than in Africa and America. Horses were used extensively for transportation, and as such their droppings were plentiful on city streets. Pets led to the spread of various diseases, and when diseases were not fatal, antibodies developed in survivors, leading to resistance to other diseases that were passed on to other generations. Domesticated animals also led to greater productivity in food production, which caused communities (towns and cities) to gather around the food source. There were fewer domesticated animals in the Americas, Africa, and other parts of the world, which meant smaller and smaller communities. The next step in Diamond's logic is to understand why conquered regions did not domesticate animals to the level of Europe and Asia. The short answer is that Eurasia had a higher population of large mammals, making them easier to tame. The author points out that all animals can be domesticated, but humanity has not yet achieved this due to time and the danger posed by some wild animals. To domesticate the lion, one would have to gather the most docile lions, destroy the others, breed the most docile ones, gather the most docile children, kill the rest, and repeat until several generations have passed and he only lions remain. are peaceful. The risk involved made this undertaking unrealistic. Elephants would be a very valuable asset in city building, but time and danger factors hinder their domestication. “Eurasian peoples inherited many more species of domesticated large wild herbivorous mammals than people on other continents.” (Chapter 9, p. 174.) This phrase means that Europe started out lucky. Moreover,some regions lend themselves to being more agricultural than others and some regions allow the exchange of technologies, new plants, food groups, etc. the region. One of Diamond's main points is that Eurasia is more east-west oriented, whereas the Americas and Africa lie in a north-south alignment across many climate zones, making the exchange of information and goods much more difficult. It is easier and more widespread for information and new discoveries to travel from east to west than from north to south. This fact favors agriculture, as new and more robust foods travel and support the inhabitants of lands located in the same latitudinal region. Papua New Guinea, for example, has many isolated areas; it is difficult to move from one tribe to another. Although they had very fertile soil and good crops, they did not have domestic animals to do the work. They also had conflict between tribes rather than a flow of information and goods that would strengthen a community. As a further argument against the racist concept of superior intelligence leading to domination of other cultures, Diamond states that intelligent people tend to avoid war and find ways to avoid disease. He then deduces that the people of Papua New Guinea are more intelligent than their European counterparts because the Europeans survived diseases due to genetic resistance while the tribes of Papua New Guinea had to find (use their intellect) how to avoid contagious diseases. The various tribes of New Guinea were also more successful in avoiding catastrophic wars than European nations. Regarding geographic intelligence favoring northern regions over equatorial regions, Diamond points out that the only American group to have developed writing was south of the Tropic of Cancer. Implications for Education It is clear that this book can be used in a history class as a unit on the discovery of the Western Hemisphere. If I were teaching on this subject, I would reduce the book to the parts relating to the Americas. Additionally, in a section on anthropology, geography, or social studies, I would use parts of this book to bring the topic to life. Although this book is listed in the Project Read category of history, I can see using the precepts in a science class or any class using inquiry techniques. I have always wondered why Native Americans died of European diseases and not the other way around. Diamond's research and explanations can be used in science classes when a description of germs and vaccinations is needed. Forging steel and developing weapons involves science and technology, but we often take natural resources for granted and don't take into account the climate that allows a fire to melt steel. Sharing these parts in a chemistry class when studying metals could capture a student's interest and enhance their understanding of a larger topic. Challenges and Criticisms The author has been accused of being somewhat insensitive in excusing human atrocities, such as genocides, by talking about germs and geography. are the cause, not depraved leaders enjoying societal approval. While I understand this criticism, I don't agree 100%. Diamond did not seek to excuse any behavior, but simply to explain indisputable facts and how they led to a dominant and dominated culture. For example, even if the Spanish were not aggressive after arriving in America, the Native Americans would still have died.”

Essay / Critical Analysis of Guns, Germs, and Steel did they conquer other regions of the world instead of the other way around? In the past, some researchers have taken a racist approach and suggested that the answer lies in the fact that Eurasians had superior intelligence, moral law, and genetics. Diamond refutes this argument and expands on other reasons for Eurasia's global domination. He takes a very logical syllogistic approach and ends with a compelling conclusion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay For example, in order to get the answer to the question above, he asks, “Why did Native Americans die from European contagions while Europeans did not?” I will not die from Native American diseases. Diamond then works to develop a multifaceted response. First, any European who was active during the discovery and colonization of the New World had ancestors who had already survived the Black Death. This meant that they had a genetic disposition to resist or recover from diseases, as well as the antibodies that provided immunization. It was the antibodies that protected them, not the DNA of the Europeans. Second, in the centuries before the discovery of the Americas, Europe consisted of cities (as well as rural environments) that were home to a variety of domestic animals. In towns and villages, people interacted closely with each other. Far more animals were domesticated in Europe and Asia than in Africa and America. Horses were used extensively for transportation, and as such their droppings were plentiful on city streets. Pets led to the spread of various diseases, and when diseases were not fatal, antibodies developed in survivors, leading to resistance to other diseases that were passed on to other generations. Domesticated animals also led to greater productivity in food production, which caused communities (towns and cities) to gather around the food source. There were fewer domesticated animals in the Americas, Africa, and other parts of the world, which meant smaller and smaller communities. The next step in Diamond's logic is to understand why conquered regions did not domesticate animals to the level of Europe and Asia. The short answer is that Eurasia had a higher population of large mammals, making them easier to tame. The author points out that all animals can be domesticated, but humanity has not yet achieved this due to time and the danger posed by some wild animals. To domesticate the lion, one would have to gather the most docile lions, destroy the others, breed the most docile ones, gather the most docile children, kill the rest, and repeat until several generations have passed and he only lions remain. are peaceful. The risk involved made this undertaking unrealistic. Elephants would be a very valuable asset in city building, but time and danger factors hinder their domestication. “Eurasian peoples inherited many more species of domesticated large wild herbivorous mammals than people on other continents.” (Chapter 9, p. 174.) This phrase means that Europe started out lucky. Moreover,some regions lend themselves to being more agricultural than others and some regions allow the exchange of technologies, new plants, food groups, etc. the region. One of Diamond's main points is that Eurasia is more east-west oriented, whereas the Americas and Africa lie in a north-south alignment across many climate zones, making the exchange of information and goods much more difficult. It is easier and more widespread for information and new discoveries to travel from east to west than from north to south. This fact favors agriculture, as new and more robust foods travel and support the inhabitants of lands located in the same latitudinal region. Papua New Guinea, for example, has many isolated areas; it is difficult to move from one tribe to another. Although they had very fertile soil and good crops, they did not have domestic animals to do the work. They also had conflict between tribes rather than a flow of information and goods that would strengthen a community. As a further argument against the racist concept of superior intelligence leading to domination of other cultures, Diamond states that intelligent people tend to avoid war and find ways to avoid disease. He then deduces that the people of Papua New Guinea are more intelligent than their European counterparts because the Europeans survived diseases due to genetic resistance while the tribes of Papua New Guinea had to find (use their intellect) how to avoid contagious diseases. The various tribes of New Guinea were also more successful in avoiding catastrophic wars than European nations. Regarding geographic intelligence favoring northern regions over equatorial regions, Diamond points out that the only American group to have developed writing was south of the Tropic of Cancer. Implications for Education It is clear that this book can be used in a history class as a unit on the discovery of the Western Hemisphere. If I were teaching on this subject, I would reduce the book to the parts relating to the Americas. Additionally, in a section on anthropology, geography, or social studies, I would use parts of this book to bring the topic to life. Although this book is listed in the Project Read category of history, I can see using the precepts in a science class or any class using inquiry techniques. I have always wondered why Native Americans died of European diseases and not the other way around. Diamond's research and explanations can be used in science classes when a description of germs and vaccinations is needed. Forging steel and developing weapons involves science and technology, but we often take natural resources for granted and don't take into account the climate that allows a fire to melt steel. Sharing these parts in a chemistry class when studying metals could capture a student's interest and enhance their understanding of a larger topic. Challenges and Criticisms The author has been accused of being somewhat insensitive in excusing human atrocities, such as genocides, by talking about germs and geography. are the cause, not depraved leaders enjoying societal approval. While I understand this criticism, I don't agree 100%. Diamond did not seek to excuse any behavior, but simply to explain indisputable facts and how they led to a dominant and dominated culture. For example, even if the Spanish were not aggressive after arriving in America, the Native Americans would still have died.”

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