Jared Diamond Essay Example

comprehend the roots of inequality by pinpointing a time when all individuals lived in a similar manner. This necessitated delving into history thousands of years before civilizations arose. About 13,000 years ago, the effects of the previous Ice Age had subsided and the global climate was transitioning towards being warmer and more humid. The Middle East served as a region where human populations thrived due to its comparatively less arid conditions in contrast to today, boasting abundant forests and vegetation. In present times, Papua New Guinea's rainforest remains one of the few remaining locations on our planet where hunting and gathering are crucial for survival.

According to Diamond, he personally observed the lifestyle of hunters instead of learning about it from archaeological books. He noted that being a hunter requires intelligence, stealthy movement, and extensive knowledge of animal species. In his video Guns, Germs and Steel, Diamond emphasizes that hunters must be clever. This hunting method was also practiced in the Middle East, where people searched for potential prey. However, hunting has always been an inefficient way to obtain sufficient food due to the time required to track down animals and the uncertainty of success when using a bow and arrow.

Women in Papua New Guinea primarily gathered food, with wild sago being a significant source. By removing the outer layers of a Sago tree, women could access the pulp in the center, which could then be processed into dough and cooked. While gathering required physical exertion, it was a more fruitful method of obtaining food compared to hunting. Despite this, it still provided sufficient calories to sustain a large population. In contrast,

the Middle East had a distinct variety of plants available for gathering. In addition to trees, there were two cereal grasses - barley and wheat - growing wildly. These grasses offered far superior nutrition compared to sago.

Only a limited number of plant species are appropriate for domestication globally. The majority of these species, such as wheat, barley, and rice, have their roots in Europe and Asia where they thrived. Different species like sorghum, millet, and yams were cultivated in tropical Africa. Corn stands as the sole native American plant. However, one exception to this trend is observed in the highlands of New Guinea which did not reap similar farming advantages. Regrettably, Australia's wild plants were not tamed.

Diamond discovered that the increased productivity found in plants also extends to animals. The inclusion of animals in agriculture, for their meat, milk, leather, dung, and as working animals, significantly boosts farming efficiency. Farmers would be stuck in an endless cycle of manual labor without the presence of animals. Out of all the creatures on earth, only fourteen have been domesticated, with twelve originating from Eurasia. Goats provide a continual protein source through their milk and meat and can also contribute to warm clothing production with their hair and skin.

Over time, domestic animals became an integral part of the new agricultural lifestyle. Furthermore, animal dung can be used as fertilizer for cereal crops. In New Guinea, pigs were the primary domesticated animals, despite not being native to the region. However, pigs did not offer milk, wool, leather, or muscle power. Regardless of this limitation, New Guinea's way of life thrived sustainably for thousands

of years. Nevertheless, Diamond suggests that technological progress was hindered by the considerable time and energy devoted to food acquisition.

Unlike South Asia, where elephants were captured in the wild and then tamed and trained for labor, Africans did not domesticate their animals. According to Diamond's research, there are 148 species of plant-eating terrestrial mammals weighing over 100 pounds that exist in the wild. Out of these species, only 14 have not been successfully farmed. These include goats, sheep, pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, Bactrian camels, Arabian camels, water buffalo,llamas,reindeer,yaks,mittens,and Bali cattle.

Over a span of 10,000 years, the domestication of only 14 large animals took place. The lama was discovered in South America, while the Middle East had various commodities. As their food supply improved, there was an increase in trial and error. This process eventually led to the development of weapons and consequent wars. The Eurasian food package created a cycle involving trial and error, weaponization, and warfare. Those living in the Fertile Crescent enjoyed a geographical advantage that gave them a significant head start. Despite New Guinea's efforts to catch up, there remained a gap between them. According to Diamond's theory, geography bestowed white individuals with an edge over the New Guineans.