When looking back on our history, the odds should have been in the favor of the people already in the Americas, rather than the Europeans. In the videos (Guns, Germs, and Steel) this unit, when talking about the Inca Empire specifically, they are described as the most powerful state in the New World. The Incas also vastly outnumbered the Europeans but they were not as advanced as them. The Europeans were eventually able to dominate the Americas because of the resources available to them. Farming was a big advantage that the Europeans had over the people of the Americas. Farming was something that began in the middle east. It was called the fertile crescent, which eventually spread to North Africa and Europe. (Guns, Germs, and Steel Part
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The animals were able to be harnessed to plows, and this method proved to be faster than a person. In the New World they had not been exposed to horses, most work on their farms was done by hand. Llamas were the largest animals used by the Native Americans and Incas they had squash, potatoes, beans, and other foods (Davidson pg. 10). Europeans had gained the access to innovative weaponry. Weapons were another reason as to why they were able to dominate the Americas, gunpowder came from China, and was used as a weapon by the Arabs. Although these guns wouldn’t be very effective today, to the people who had never seen such a weapon this would have been frightening to see in action. Steel production was also and effective weapon for the Europeans. With the production of steel this provided them with swords, over time Europeans became very skilled with their swords, while the Americas (Incas specifically) used bronze tools. Europeans also had the ability to write, which was inspired by cuneiform. Although Southern Mexico on North America had writing symbols, this did not spread to the Incas. Jared Diamond says that this is due to the fact that the Americas were North-South rather than …show more content…
12). Since Europeans had been exposed to diseases like small pox, tuberculosis, measles, etc. , they eventually became immune. These diseases mostly came from the animals, and over time their bodies knew how to fight off the illnesses. In the New World they weren’t exposed to these new diseases, because there were no domesticated animals in their possession. They were exposed in 1492 when the Europeans came over, 20 million Native Americans were killed by the Old World diseases. All of these factors are contributions to the Europeans being able to conquer the Americas. Accidental Conquerors is what Jared Diamond refers to the Europeans as, Jared says this because Europeans were the first to discover Guns, Germs, and steel. Jared’s explanation for the Europeans being the first to be exposed to these things because of their location. They were able to obtain animals, which gave them diseases that they would later become immune to. They were able to learn languages with Asia, and could make trades for expansive weapons. I agree with Jared Diamond and find these facts to be convincing, if these factors were not in play I think that maybe the New World would have been
The animals were able to be harnessed to plows, and this method proved to be faster than a person. In the New World they had not been exposed to horses, most work on their farms was done by hand. Llamas were the largest animals used by the Native Americans and Incas they had squash, potatoes, beans, and other foods (Davidson pg. 10). Europeans had gained the access to innovative weaponry. Weapons were another reason as to why they were able to dominate the Americas, gunpowder came from China, and was used as a weapon by the Arabs. Although these guns wouldn’t be very effective today, to the people who had never seen such a weapon this would have been frightening to see in action. Steel production was also and effective weapon for the Europeans. With the production of steel this provided them with swords, over time Europeans became very skilled with their swords, while the Americas (Incas specifically) used bronze tools. Europeans also had the ability to write, which was inspired by cuneiform. Although Southern Mexico on North America had writing symbols, this did not spread to the Incas. Jared Diamond says that this is due to the fact that the Americas were North-South rather than …show more content…
12). Since Europeans had been exposed to diseases like small pox, tuberculosis, measles, etc. , they eventually became immune. These diseases mostly came from the animals, and over time their bodies knew how to fight off the illnesses. In the New World they weren’t exposed to these new diseases, because there were no domesticated animals in their possession. They were exposed in 1492 when the Europeans came over, 20 million Native Americans were killed by the Old World diseases. All of these factors are contributions to the Europeans being able to conquer the Americas. Accidental Conquerors is what Jared Diamond refers to the Europeans as, Jared says this because Europeans were the first to discover Guns, Germs, and steel. Jared’s explanation for the Europeans being the first to be exposed to these things because of their location. They were able to obtain animals, which gave them diseases that they would later become immune to. They were able to learn languages with Asia, and could make trades for expansive weapons. I agree with Jared Diamond and find these facts to be convincing, if these factors were not in play I think that maybe the New World would have been