Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. 1997. 425p. ISBN 0739467352. Available at 303.4 DIA on the library shelves.

How is it that after 10,000 years of human development, Europeans spread across the globe and conquered societies as disparate as the Incas and Aztecs, the Native Americans, Southeast Asians, Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Africans, instead of the reverse? In this extremely well-researched book, Diamond makes the argument that geography, climate, and the unequal spread of large mammals throughout the world directly influenced how societies evolved and interacted with each other, leading directly to today’s world map.

The continents of Europe and Asia are connected and share a similar climate. As a result, large mammals such as the cow and horse were able to travel far and wide. Plants likewise could be found from southern France all the way to China. In Africa and the Americas, by contrast, the continents’ north/south orientation prevented plants and animals that thrived in temperate climates to propagate to the other temperate zone across the equatorial line. Until the advent of ships that could provide transportation, these animals and plants were effectively blocked from reaching other fertile zones. Finally, Australia’s isolation and separation from the other land masses allowed native flora and fauna to grow and spread, but the arrival of man killed off the larger mammals while the unpredictability of the climate and the poor quality of the soil prevented the evolution of agriculture.

Thus, even though all humans around 11,000 BCE are Stone Age hunters and gatherers, those living in fertile areas populated by large animals were able to harness the power of agriculture and the muscles of domesticated beasts to increase the yield of food, allowing for the emergence of specialization, of bureaucrats and of states. The germs transmitted from animals to humans, the discovery and availability of guns, and the smelting of steel sealed the fate of those societies who did not develop these elements.

A powerful story about us, Guns, Germs and Steel will appeal to readers of history and to everyone who is interesting in finding out why today’s world exist as is.