a. Diamond talks about the drastic differences in the overall human population and the differences in evolving technologies over the last 13,000 years. Diamond gives his thoughts about geographical differences among varying societies. He explains that most people would like to think that these differences originated in biological differences, while he explains how this simply is not true. He goes into detail about why he thinks Europeans were dominant in colonizing various continents (more described in part b). Diamond's key points are these important factors (b) that can be used to describe how societies differ.
b. Diamond emphasizes that the differences in societies around the world is not biological, but more geographical. Diamond explains that the Europeans success in making technological advances started with the ability of wild plants and animals to be domesticated. In addition, the east/west axis of Europe provided for easy spread of these domestication due to little variations in climate. Diamond also explains that this led to "the rise of human population numbers, population densities, and food surpluses, which in turn contributed decisively to the development of epidemic infectious diseases, writing, technology, and political organization." These factors lead, obviously to different societies having varying amounts of power. In addition, isolation from other societies, like in Tasmania, will limit technological advances. Information about tools and techniques were/are shared between cultures, leading to a faster rate of technological advancement.
c. It is obvious that the effects from the factors described in (b) are still being felt today. Europe has become very technologically advanced (and areas colonized by Europeans) while other areas of the world suffer technologically. For example, we live in a society today where food is mass produced by a small percentage of the population so that the rest of the people can use there time to provide other services to society. Food is a necessity that is greatly taken for granted. We simply expect the farmers of society to provide food for us. In other societies of the world, food does not come as easily. In tribes, for example, hunting and gathering is a way of life. This is a much different society where each day, tasks are done for survival, rather than for research, work, play, leisure, etc. The economies today differ greatly across the world, and these differences are a result of the factors described in (b).
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