Introduction
The documentary seems to take a different approach to try to understand human culture. Interestingly, the documentary is adopts a historical approach rather than a scientific approach. This is because Diamond is a biologist professor and to be able to understand why human culture has so many differences he ventures in to the world of anthropology and history. The main thesis of the documentary focuses on the environment and its influence in shaping the differences in human culture.
Do you think Jared Diamond has a plausible scientific basis for his thoughts on the spread of Guns, Germs, and Steel?
Diamond’s work on Guns, Germs, and Steel takes more of a historical approach rather than a scientific one. Most of the evidence gathered tends to support his thoughts. From the documentary, Diamond indicates that technological development is critical in enabling societies to produce food. The people of New Guinea involved in hunting and gathering have limited sources of food. To support his claim that differences in human development are determined by the environment and resource availability he provides an analysis of societies dating back to over 11000 years. Scientific evidence in the study is limited and is based on the experiences such as the New Guinea people being able to survive in harsh environments. Diamond asserts that racial differences do not necessarily determine the material culture. Diamond uses what he calls natural experiments to try to explain how environments affect human. A valid statement he makes involves the idea of food. The abundance of food implies that a society can feed its people and thus be able to sustain people in different vocations. Despite the non-scientific approach to support his evidences, Diamond makes credible arguments that prompt further research in the area of environments shaping civilization.
Diffusion Pattern
The diffusion pattern exhibited in the discussion of Guns, Germs and Steel is relocation diffusion. According to Dahlman, Renwick, and Bergman (2010), relocation diffusion is attributed to the physical environment. Much of the work that Diamond is trying to explain revolves around how the environment and availability of different resources have shaped human civilization. Further, this type of diffusion is evident from the documentary when Diamond discusses societies dating back 11,000 years ago. These societies involved hunters and gatherers who migrated based on the conditions of the environment. Over the years, the changing climate patterns in Middle East have influenced the way of living of individuals. A society cannot thrive in an environment where there is no access to food. The ice age period greatly influenced the early human cultures in terms of food. In the past, the climate in the Middle East favored plants and animals, but because of the sudden increases in temperature, communities were forced to relocate to different areas where the environment seemed hospitable in terms of food and water.
The increase in population and lack of food triggers the migration of individuals to different environments. The groups of individuals that migrated to lands that had a variety of plants and animals suitable for domestication were able to thrive better. For the people in Papua New Guinea, food is limited. The source of food from trees is also limited, which has been a contributing factor in the people being disadvantaged.
Reference
Dahlman, Carl, Renwick, William H., & Bergman, Edward. (2010). Introduction to Geography
People, Places, & Environment: Pearson Etext Student Access Code Card. Pearson College Div.
