GUNS, GERMS, AND GUNS, GERMS, AND STEELSTEEL

The Fates of Human SocietyThe Fates of Human SocietyJared DiamondJared Diamond

Presentation Prepared by Marti LeightyMarch 2, 2006

Book’s Major Question:Book’s Major Question:

Peoples of Eurasian origin, especially Peoples of Eurasian origin, especially those still living in Europe and Eastern those still living in Europe and Eastern Asia and in places where their cultures Asia and in places where their cultures have spread, dominate the world in have spread, dominate the world in power and wealth.power and wealth.

Other peoples have been decimated, Other peoples have been decimated, subjugated and even exterminated by subjugated and even exterminated by Eurasian colonists.Eurasian colonists.

WHY????WHY????

OBJECTIONSOBJECTIONS

““If we explain why some people If we explain why some people came to dominate, may this not came to dominate, may this not seem to justify the domination?”seem to justify the domination?”

DIAMOND’S THESISDIAMOND’S THESIS

History followed different courses History followed different courses for different peoples because of for different peoples because of differences in people’s differences in people’s environment, not because of environment, not because of biological (genetic) differences biological (genetic) differences among the people themselves.among the people themselves.

EUROPEANS EUROPEANS ENCOUNTER NATIVE ENCOUNTER NATIVE AMERICANSAMERICANSThese first encounters encapsulate These first encounters encapsulate

the factors that generally led to the factors that generally led to Eurasian conquest; that is, the Eurasian conquest; that is, the whole can be summarized with whole can be summarized with this part of the story.this part of the story.

• Inca Emperor Atahualla encounters Inca Emperor Atahualla encounters the Spanish Conquistador Francisco the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro at Cajamarca in 1532Pizarro at Cajamarca in 1532

• Atahualla 80,000 soldiers; Pizarra 168Atahualla 80,000 soldiers; Pizarra 168• Pizarro captures Atahullpa, collects Pizarro captures Atahullpa, collects

enormous ransom, then kills him enormous ransom, then kills him anywayanyway

• Battle key to conquest of Inca empireBattle key to conquest of Inca empire

Why Does Pizarro Why Does Pizarro Succeed?Succeed? Domesticated horsesDomesticated horses used in used in

battlebattle Incas already divided by civil war Incas already divided by civil war

which rose from an epidemic of which rose from an epidemic of smallpoxsmallpox

Pizarro got there as a result of Pizarro got there as a result of European European maritime technologymaritime technology developed by a developed by a centralized centralized political statepolitical state

• Pizzarro possessed steel swordsPizzarro possessed steel swords• He also had guns but they weren’t He also had guns but they weren’t

particularly effective at this pointparticularly effective at this point• Written Spanish documents had Written Spanish documents had

contributed information about the contributed information about the resources of the Incas and the resources of the Incas and the central role played by Atahualla, central role played by Atahualla, predicting his demise would predicting his demise would devastate Incasdevastate Incas

Food ProductionFood Production

• Why did food production not Why did food production not evolve in large, geographically evolve in large, geographically suitable areas of the globe?suitable areas of the globe?

• Why did the dates of food Why did the dates of food production development vary so production development vary so widely?widely?

• Were the humans different, or Were the humans different, or was the environment?was the environment?

All people on earth were once All people on earth were once hunter-gathers; why did some hunter-gathers; why did some leave this behind and others not?leave this behind and others not?

““Food production systems evolved Food production systems evolved as a result of the accumulation of as a result of the accumulation of many separate decisions about many separate decisions about allocating time and effort” allocating time and effort” (Diamond).(Diamond).

Food production developed as a way Food production developed as a way to provide the most calories to provide the most calories (particularly of protein)_ with the (particularly of protein)_ with the least amount of effort.least amount of effort.

The major significance of evolving The major significance of evolving into food production was to free into food production was to free up time so that certain tribal up time so that certain tribal members could become members could become SPECIALISTS: weapon makers, SPECIALISTS: weapon makers, container makers, tribal leaders, container makers, tribal leaders, medicine men, etc.medicine men, etc.

In cultures that evolved food In cultures that evolved food production, the major factors production, the major factors contributing were:contributing were:

Decline in the availability of wild foodsDecline in the availability of wild foods Increased availability of domesticable Increased availability of domesticable

wild plantswild plants Development of technologies for Development of technologies for

collecting, processing and storing wild collecting, processing and storing wild foodsfoods

How Were Wild Plants How Were Wild Plants Domesticated?Domesticated?

• Selection of largest and most Selection of largest and most attractive plantsattractive plants

• Preferential planting of “best” Preferential planting of “best” seedsseeds

• Favoring beneficial mutations in Favoring beneficial mutations in plants (almonds)plants (almonds)

• Selection of seeds that did not Selection of seeds that did not germinate simultaneouslygerminate simultaneously

• Selection of self-pollinatorsSelection of self-pollinators

Problems With Food Problems With Food Cultivation in Much of Cultivation in Much of North AmericaNorth America Major grain crop, corn, was very tiny, Major grain crop, corn, was very tiny,

took thousands of years to evolve into took thousands of years to evolve into modern size, not self-pollinating, and modern size, not self-pollinating, and very low in proteinvery low in protein

Wild grasses largely limited to rice Wild grasses largely limited to rice which also was low in proteinwhich also was low in protein

Few (turkey and dog) domesticable Few (turkey and dog) domesticable animals to assist in production or to be animals to assist in production or to be eateneaten

Advantages of Advantages of Western EurasiaWestern Eurasia Largest land mass in Largest land mass in

Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate Great diversity of wild plants and Great diversity of wild plants and

animalsanimals Greatest seasonal climatic varietyGreatest seasonal climatic variety

—more annuals—more annuals 56 prize grasses56 prize grasses

Range of altitudes led to Range of altitudes led to staggered harvestsstaggered harvests

Less competition from hunter-Less competition from hunter-gatherersgatherers

Why New Guineans Why New Guineans Didn’t Develop Didn’t Develop AgricultureAgriculture

• No domesticable grain cropsNo domesticable grain crops• Root crops lacking in proteinRoot crops lacking in protein• No domesticable large mammal No domesticable large mammal

speciesspecies

In coastal areas, consumed fish In coastal areas, consumed fish which shows openness to new which shows openness to new foodsfoods

In highlands, frequent protein In highlands, frequent protein starvation (which may have been starvation (which may have been a factor in areas where a factor in areas where cannibalism existed)cannibalism existed)

Mississippi Mississippi FlorescenceFlorescence Refers to arrival of dozens of Refers to arrival of dozens of

crops from Mexico. Once crops from Mexico. Once introduced, they were widely introduced, they were widely cultivated. This is evidence that cultivated. This is evidence that once crops arrived, indigenous once crops arrived, indigenous people planted and cultivated people planted and cultivated them.them.

All of this supports Diamond’s All of this supports Diamond’s thesis that differences in the thesis that differences in the arrival of plant production were arrival of plant production were based, not on limitations of the based, not on limitations of the people but on biota.people but on biota.

The Role of Domesticable The Role of Domesticable Animals in Food Animals in Food ProductionProduction““Domesticable animals are all alike; Domesticable animals are all alike;

every undomesticable animal is every undomesticable animal is undomesticable in its own way” undomesticable in its own way” (Diamond).(Diamond).

Provided by Domestic Provided by Domestic AnimalsAnimals• MeatMeat• Milk ProductsMilk Products• FertilizerFertilizer• TransportTransport• LeatherLeather• Military assault vehiclesMilitary assault vehicles• Plow tractionPlow traction• (Germs)(Germs)

Domestication is the process by Domestication is the process by which wild animals are which wild animals are transformed into something more transformed into something more helpful to humans.helpful to humans.

Eurasia had 13 0f 14 domesticable Eurasia had 13 0f 14 domesticable animals.animals.

The Major FiveThe Major Five

• Sheep (Asiatic mouflon)Sheep (Asiatic mouflon)• Goat (Besoar goat of West Asia)Goat (Besoar goat of West Asia)• Cow, ox, cattle (aurochs, now Cow, ox, cattle (aurochs, now

extinct, found in Eurasiaextinct, found in Eurasia• Pig (wild boar, distributed over Pig (wild boar, distributed over

Eurasia and North Africa)Eurasia and North Africa)• Horse (wild horses from Russia)Horse (wild horses from Russia)

The Minor NineThe Minor Nine

• Camel (Arabia and Central Asia)Camel (Arabia and Central Asia)• Llama and alpaca (Andes)Llama and alpaca (Andes)• Donkey (African wild ass of Donkey (African wild ass of

Northern Africa)Northern Africa)• Reindeer (Northern Eurasia)Reindeer (Northern Eurasia)• Water buffalo (Southeast Asia)Water buffalo (Southeast Asia)

• Yak (Himalayas and Tibetan Yak (Himalayas and Tibetan plateau)plateau)

• Bali cattle (banteng from Bali cattle (banteng from Southeast Asia)Southeast Asia)

• Mithan (the gar of India and Mithan (the gar of India and Burma)Burma)

Why Were Eurasia’s Why Were Eurasia’s Animals Animals Domesticated?Domesticated?• Why Eurasia's horses but not Why Eurasia's horses but not

Africa’s zebras?Africa’s zebras?• Why Eurasia’s pigs but not Why Eurasia’s pigs but not

America's or Africa’s?America's or Africa’s?• Why Eurasia’s cattle but not Why Eurasia’s cattle but not

buffalo?buffalo?

• Was it the peoples or the Was it the peoples or the animals?animals?

• The evidence that it was the The evidence that it was the animals themselves is based on animals themselves is based on the rapid adoption of the rapid adoption of domesticable animals once they domesticable animals once they arrived from other places.arrived from other places.

There were repeated 19There were repeated 19thth and 20 and 20thth century attempts to domesticate century attempts to domesticate Eland, moose, ox, zebra, and Eland, moose, ox, zebra, and bison.bison.

Modern geneticists met with little Modern geneticists met with little success—so too indigenous success—so too indigenous peoples.peoples.

Why “perpetually Why “perpetually wild”?wild”?• DietDiet• Growth rateGrowth rate• Problems with Captive Breeding Problems with Captive Breeding

(pandas, cheetahs, vicunas(pandas, cheetahs, vicunas• Nasty and dangerous dispositions Nasty and dangerous dispositions

( grizzly bear, American buffalo, ( grizzly bear, American buffalo, zebra)zebra)

• Tendency to panic when Tendency to panic when approached (all gazelle species)approached (all gazelle species)

Social structure: Domestic Social structure: Domestic animals live in herds, have a animals live in herds, have a dominance hierarchy, overlap dominance hierarchy, overlap ranges rather than have exclusive ranges rather than have exclusive territory.territory.

Role of Direction of Major Role of Direction of Major Axes in Dissemination of Axes in Dissemination of Ideas and ProductsIdeas and Products

Why Did Ideas About Why Did Ideas About Plants and Animals Plants and Animals spread more quickly in spread more quickly in Eurasia?Eurasia?

GERMS!!GERMS!!

Diseases have been major shapers Diseases have been major shapers of historyof history

• Influenza of 1918Influenza of 1918• European conquests of Americas European conquests of Americas

(Spanish conquistadors, English (Spanish conquistadors, English settlers)settlers)

Eurasia sight of major Eurasia sight of major infectious diseases: infectious diseases: Why?Why?• Many diseases zoonotic Many diseases zoonotic • Critical masses of people because Critical masses of people because

of efficient food productionof efficient food production• Crowd diseases could not survive Crowd diseases could not survive

in small bands of peoplein small bands of people• Leprosy, yaws, hookworms may Leprosy, yaws, hookworms may

be oldest because could survive be oldest because could survive in smaller tribesin smaller tribes

Farming and agriculture Farming and agriculture increase diseases and increase diseases and disease spreaddisease spread

• Farms live around and often Farms live around and often fertilize with their own sewagefertilize with their own sewage

• Densely packed human Densely packed human populationspopulations

• Evolution of world trade routes Evolution of world trade routes (distributed smallpox)(distributed smallpox)

New Zoonotic New Zoonotic Diseases?Diseases?• AIDSAIDS• Lassa FeverLassa Fever• Lyme DiseaseLyme Disease• Hanta virusesHanta viruses

Syphilis is suspected of being only Syphilis is suspected of being only disease transferred from native disease transferred from native Americans to Euarsia.Americans to Euarsia.

Development of Development of Written Language Written Language CriticalCriticalWriting is the key to transmit Writing is the key to transmit

knowledge to distant lands and to knowledge to distant lands and to retain knowledgeretain knowledge

Writing was developed by Writing was developed by agricultural groups because food agricultural groups because food production allows for the production allows for the development of specialists development of specialists (scribes)(scribes)

With the exception of Egyptian and With the exception of Egyptian and Chinese all writing systems are Chinese all writing systems are derived from early Mesoamerican derived from early Mesoamerican writing.writing.

Phoenicians provided Phoenicians provided representational consonantal representational consonantal alphabetalphabet

Greeks invented representation of Greeks invented representation of vowel soundsvowel sounds

Written language aided in Written language aided in conquering of new lands.conquering of new lands.

GUNS AND STEELGUNS AND STEEL

Why Did Eurasians Why Did Eurasians Possess Technology Possess Technology First?First?• Technology develops Technology develops

cumulatively rather than in cumulatively rather than in isolated actsisolated acts

• Technology finds most of its uses Technology finds most of its uses AFTER inventionAFTER invention

• Technology requires a society to Technology requires a society to adopt itadopt it

• Religions vary widely in their Religions vary widely in their willingness to adopt technologywillingness to adopt technology

• Depending on geography, Depending on geography, information about technological information about technological advances will reach some people advances will reach some people and not othersand not others

Descendents of those societies Descendents of those societies that achieved centralized that achieved centralized government and organized government and organized religion earliest ended up religion earliest ended up dominating the modern world.dominating the modern world.

““The combination of government The combination of government and religion has thus functioned and religion has thus functioned together with germs, writing, and together with germs, writing, and technology as one of the four main technology as one of the four main sets or proximate agents leading sets or proximate agents leading to history's broadest pattern.to history's broadest pattern.

How did governments and How did governments and religions arise?religions arise?

Levels of Social Levels of Social Organization Evolve from Organization Evolve from Least to Most ComplexLeast to Most Complex

• BandsBands• TribesTribes• ChiefdomsChiefdoms• StatesStates

BandsBands

• Tiny populations: typically 5-80 Tiny populations: typically 5-80 peoplepeople

• Most are close relatives by birth Most are close relatives by birth or marriageor marriage

• All humans lived in bands until All humans lived in bands until 40,000 years ago40,000 years ago

BandsBands

• Usually nomadic: live in areas where Usually nomadic: live in areas where food is scarcefood is scarce

• Land used jointly by whole groupLand used jointly by whole group• No specialization: all able-bodied No specialization: all able-bodied

individuals forage for foodindividuals forage for food• Economic System: Reciprocal ExchangeEconomic System: Reciprocal Exchange• No laws, treaties, or police to help No laws, treaties, or police to help

resolve disputesresolve disputes

TribesTribes

• Society with hundreds of people, Society with hundreds of people, usually settled in many villagesusually settled in many villages

• Shared language and cultureShared language and culture• More than one kinship groupMore than one kinship group• Land belongs to clans within a tribeLand belongs to clans within a tribe• Everyone knows everyone else by Everyone knows everyone else by

name and relationshipname and relationship

TribesTribes

• Social system egalitarianSocial system egalitarian• No upper or lower classNo upper or lower class• No one can become more wealthyNo one can become more wealthy• Government still egalitarianGovernment still egalitarian• Decisions are made in a groupDecisions are made in a group• May have “big man” with limited May have “big man” with limited

power; still would live like otherspower; still would live like others

ChiefdomsChiefdoms

• Population: several thousands to Population: several thousands to tens of thousandstens of thousands

• Arose about 7500 years ago with Arose about 7500 years ago with rising populationsrising populations

• In 1492 widespread in North and In 1492 widespread in North and South America, Africa, PolynesiaSouth America, Africa, Polynesia

StatesStates

• Populations of 50,000 to 1 billionPopulations of 50,000 to 1 billion• Usually have literate elitesUsually have literate elites• Sometimes literate populationSometimes literate population• Arose first in Mesopotamia, later Arose first in Mesopotamia, later

in Mesoamerica, China, Southeast in Mesoamerica, China, Southeast Asia, Andes, West AfricaAsia, Andes, West Africa

ReligionReligion

• Early: tribal deitiesEarly: tribal deities• PolytheistPolytheist• Standardized temples and religions Standardized temples and religions

evolve under influence of kingsevolve under influence of kings• Often these kings were head of state Often these kings were head of state

religionreligion• Monotheism evolvesMonotheism evolves• Temples or religious centers are Temples or religious centers are

crucial to economic redistribution, crucial to economic redistribution, writing, crafts, technologywriting, crafts, technology

Advantages of States Advantages of States and Centralized and Centralized ReligionsReligions• Primarily as they allow for Primarily as they allow for

specializationspecialization• Provide critical mass for technologies Provide critical mass for technologies

to emerge, be adapted, and spreadto emerge, be adapted, and spread• May reduce numbers of armed May reduce numbers of armed

conflictsconflicts• Dissemination of ideas and Dissemination of ideas and

informationinformation

ReligionsReligions

• Can unite a people with shared Can unite a people with shared goals and beliefsgoals and beliefs

• May create central “mythos”: idea May create central “mythos”: idea that God wants them to spread this that God wants them to spread this religionreligion

• Missionaries played critical role in Missionaries played critical role in providing Eurasian ideas and providing Eurasian ideas and technology to isolated populations.technology to isolated populations.