Guns, Germs, and Steel

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1. 
   pmiranda2857 Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   According to Diamond there are many variables that contribute the one group's receptivity to new inventions over others.

   "He believes that the success of a society is not based on intelligence and ingenuity but instead on geography, food production, germs and immunity, the domestication of animals, and the discovery and use of steel."

   Seven reasons are listed in the above paragraph.  Others include:

   -A society's ability to move from hunting and gathering to an agricultural lifestyle with more food sources and greater stability.

   -The presence of animals and plants that were easily domesticated.

   -Certain landmasses had the great advantage of plants that could be moved from one area to another.

   -Living in regions that did not separate populations, such as in high mountains, deserts or surrounded by large bodies of water.

   -Trading with other populations of people

   -Coming in contact with different germs strengthens a society and improves their ability to survive long-term.

   "As a consequence of living in dense populations, trading with other dense populations, and living close to domesticated animals, Eurasians came into contact with stronger germs."

   "At first this might sound like a disadvantage, but as weaker members of early societies succumbed to germs, the people who survived built natural immunities against them and passed the immunities down to their children"

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/guns-germs-steel/summary

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   Posted by pmiranda2857 on Tuesday August 12, 2008 at 4:43 AM
   
   

2. 
   broadwaychik93 Student
   High School - 10th Grade

   You will find them on pages 249-251.

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   Posted by broadwaychik93 on Monday August 25, 2008 at 4:13 PM
   
   

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