1. According to Jared Diamond, what are the three major elements that separate the world’s
“haves” from the “have nots”?
The three major elements are guns, germs, and steel.
2. Jared Diamond refers to the people of New Guinea as “among the world’s most culturally diverse
and adaptable people in the world”, yet they have much less than modern Americans.Diamond has
developed a theory about what has caused these huge discrepancies among different countries, and
he says it boils down to geographic luck. Give several examples from the film to support Diamond’s
theory.
In the Middle East they had a lot of resources compared to the very little amount of resources in the jungles in New Guinea. Since they had more resources because they could farm they didn't have to rely on being hunter- gatherers. Some places didn't have fertile soil to farm so they had to rely on hunting and gathering.
3. For thousands of years, people have been cultivating crops. Describe the process used to
domesticate crops and create plants that yielded bigger, tastier harvests.
Humans change the way that crops are produced and we only pick the biggest, and tastiest crops/seeds to plant and eat. By changing the seasons we plant in, the soil, or the amount of seeds it cultivates the crops to make a bigger and tastier harvest.
4. According to Diamond, livestock also plays a significant role in a civilization’s ability to
become rich and powerful. How did the domestication of animals help people? Give several examples.
Humans can use the skin/fur from animals for warmth and clothes. We can also use the bodies of livestock for food (beef, chicken). The animals also eat the grass and fertilize the food. We can use the milk from cows for protein as well.
5. List the animals that can be domesticated and where they can be found.
llama-South America
Asia, North Africa and Europe: goats,
sheep, pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, camels, water buffalo, reindeer, yaks, nithans, and
cattle.
6. Looking at the list of animals and locations from question 5, discuss how Diamond’s theory about
geographic luck applies here.
Most of the domesticated animals are native to the place and the climate kept them alive in that area. Once we began domestication animals there was a greater productivity of resources.
7. How did the movement of the early civilizations of the Fertile Crescent (Middle East) further
support Diamond’s idea that geography played a key role in the success of a civilization?
The Fertile Crescent had a very weak environment and it has very dry climate. The land could not
support continuous farming and the people over exploited the land. The people left the land because
their was no farming. The Fertile Crescent had the same latitude of Europe and Asia so they moved and
their crops thrived.
8. Do you agree with Jared Diamond when he says of a civilization's ability to gain power,
wealth, and strength, “…what’s far more important is the hand that people have been dealt, the raw
materials they’ve had at their disposal.” Why or why not?
I agree with Diamond because most of the peoples success was with things they could not control.
They could not control the climate or land which was purely by chance. Certain places had certain
things that lined up perfectly and they strived in the environment. The Fertile Crescent was built
around two rivers and all the land in between the rivers was fertile. The land was purely determined
by luck of the land and the environment you are in.
