Responses to "Why Did Human History Unfold Differently On Different Continents For The Last 13,000 Years?" by Jared Diamond

a)  When reading Jared Diamond's "Why Did Human History Unfold Differently On Different Continents For The Last 13,000 Years?", it was very apparent that his major themes included human development, technology, domestication, continental environments, and isolation.  He points out that each continent has either a north/south axis or an east/west axis.  Those countries with east/west axes allow their  wild plant and animal species to spread without encountering unsuitable climates.  The ease of spreading contributes to rates of agriculture and herding among each continent.  This contributes largely to the rise of human population, population densities, and food surpluses, further contributing to infectious diseases and forms of communication, such as writing and technology.

b)  Diamond identifies isolation, technology, and the spread of species as the major determinants to a society's success.  Isolations of continents, such as Tasmania and Australia, caused their lack of technology when it came to be conquered by the Europeans.  Diamond explains that Technology has to be adopted as well as maintained.  If Tasmania had remained in contact with the mainland of Australia, they would have adopted techniques such as fishing and craftsmanship. Technological innovations "diffuse in from the outside".  The spread of species allows continents to have access to animals that are able to be domesticated.  An example of a continent lacking such domesticated animals is Africa.  This is due to their north/south axis.  Crops are unable to spread more southern than where there is summer rainfall, and animals lack the ability to adapt to climates they are not used to.  This hindered Africa in that they did not have domesticated animals to ride, such as the Europeans had horses, another reason Europeans were so successful at conquering continents.  Although Diamond elaborated and touched more on other ideas, these three subjects were seen as the most prominent determinants mentioned in his article.

c)  More powerful nations have many resources that are readily available.  These more powerful nations should use their resources in order to help developing nations become more advanced.  Helping developing nations acquire the skill sets and technology that they need, will allow for a more advanced world as a whole.