Week 5: Guns, Germs, and Steel 3 Flashcards
Explain the term “Surplus” and its importance in Diamond’s theory.
Surplus refers to excess production, especially of food, which allows for population growth, societal complexity, and the development of specialized roles beyond farming.
Drag and drop
ELEMENTS:
Guns
Germs
Steel
Surplus Food
ADVANTAGES:
Military Power
Immunity Advantage
Technological Innovation
Population Growth
Guns – Military Power
Germs – Immunity Advantage
Steel – Technological Innovation
Surplus Food – Population Growth
True or False:
Diamond argues that guns, germs, and steel represent inherent genetic advantages in Europeans.
Answer: False
Reason: Diamond argues that European dominance was due to geographic and environmental factors, not genetic superiority. He suggests that factors like access to domesticable animals, fertile land, and technological diffusion were the main drivers of European power, rather than inherent genetic differences.
True or False: According to Diamond, the Americas had fewer domesticable animals, which limited the development of agricultural societies.
Answer: True
Reason: Diamond explains that the Americas lacked domesticable animals compared to Eurasia, which limited the development of stable agricultural societies and the immunities that come from close contact with animals. This absence of animals impacted the scale and structure of American societies, as well as their resilience to Eurasian diseases during contact.
True or False: The east-west axis of Eurasia facilitated the spread of crops and technology more than a north-south orientation would have.
Answer: True
Reason: Diamond argues that the east-west orientation of Eurasia allowed for the spread of crops, animals, and technologies across similar climates and latitudes, which supported cultural and technological diffusion. In contrast, a north-south orientation, like that of the Americas, posed climate barriers that restricted the spread of these resources.
True or False: Environmental determinism suggests that cultural choices are the primary factor in shaping societies.
Answer: False
Reason: Environmental determinism suggests that environmental and geographic factors are the primary drivers of societal development, rather than cultural choices. Diamond’s theory emphasizes the role of natural resources, climate, and geography in determining societal outcomes over time.
True or False: According to Diamond, social hierarchies only emerged in societies with agricultural surpluses.
Answer: True
Reason: Diamond suggests that agricultural surpluses allowed for larger, more complex societies with specialized roles. The abundance of resources enabled the development of social hierarchies, as not everyone had to focus on food production, leading to class distinctions and centralized authority.
Define “Environmental Determinism.”
Environmental determinism is the theory that the physical environment, including factors like geography, climate, and natural resources, plays a decisive role in shaping the development, success, and power of societies.
According to this theory, environmental factors are more influential than cultural or genetic factors in determining societal outcomes.
Define “Technological Diffusion.”
Technological diffusion refers to the spread of technologies, innovations, and ideas from one society to another.
This process often occurs through trade, conquest, or cultural exchange and can be heavily influenced by geographical proximity and environmental conditions that facilitate or hinder interaction between societies.
