Thursday, July 28, 2005

Guns, Germs and Steel


Well I just finished reading this book and after hearing all the hype associated with it, I must say... it IS a good book.

Basically if you have ever wondered why it is that white Europeans are the dominant "race" on the planet right now, this book has a lot of answers for you.

I don't want to get into the whole book but bassically the theories he puts forth as determining factors of dominance are
-Plant and crop viability
-avaliable and compatible animals for domestication
-axis of continents running along longitude
-continental differences in area and population size

Now he goes into more detail but basically what he is saying is that race is not a determinant for dominance but rather a series of environmental attibutes will or can lead to advanced development.

2 comments:

Aaron said...

And don't forget that westerners have a shorter gestation period. That's key to dominance, man. Key.

Juggy said...

9 months vs 10, yup that'll lead to dominance ;)

Honestly htough, that just may be countered by the amazing effects of Gimchi!