Book Review
Question 1
In defense of his statement, Diamond says that the location in which a particular culture took as a settlement area led to their ability to progress. The key things that defined the growth of a culture were animal domestication and agriculture. Apart from that, the ability of a community to come up with ways to have significant health traits, such as developing immunity vaccines, is significant. In short, the reason America and Europe progressed is due to the lack of some of the key features. It led them to travel far in search of them. Through the travels, they got to gain knowledge from different cultures and combine them together to make a better culture in themselves.
Question 2
The answer is not convincing at all. It is morally diminishing and racist. What Diamond tries to tell others is that Americans and Europeans progressed further because they toured the world and form it gained knowledge. However, even if they travelled, the cultures they found had better skills in the way they undertook their duties. Another flaw in the answer is that most countries have similar geographic setting like America and Europe yet they are not the same. Diamond tries to hide the fact that Europe and America grew because of the immoralities they undertook like slavery and colonization. It is through these actions that they were in a position to progress more than others.
Question 3
The major implication is the disappointment people have in poor countries. They look at the rich countries and feel as if they cannot reach them. That attitude has led to people to work lesser and seek help from rich countries. However, the poor countries can reach the heights of the rich through determination and will power. Another implication is the rich countries look down upon the poor countries. People tend to disrespects others from poor countries because they feel as if they do not add value to their lives. They see the poor countries as beggars and treat them as slaves. However, some of the great ideas come from these countries but they tap into them and try to make them theirs.
Book 2
Question 1
The New World Economy opened doors for other continents like Asia and Africa. Its introduction meant that people could buy and sell their goods to other continents. Apart from establishing a trade market, the emergence brought about change in cultures. People got exposed from great artifacts found in Asia and were sold to prospective buyers in the world. The same also happened to Asia in that other culture brought in their traditions. The emergence led to a mixture of race in Asia. People were in a position to work in Asia and Asians would work in any other region they wish to.
Question 2
The enrichment of the Industrial revolution brought about trade throughout the world. Its importance is seen in the way people have absorbed other cultures, and others thrive above others. There is a significant increase in the economy, and people are in a position to discover their abilities further. In a good way, it has led to the progress in life and introduce space for the exploitation of other great minds.
Question 3
Marks argues out that the de-industrialization of India was as a result of a trick that the British played on them. Indians were known to have the best cotton in the world and led to great exportation quantities to other continents. The British acquired its first colony and later acquired the rights to take land taxes. Since they could not accept the cotton as part of payment, the farmers had no option but to use the British currency. However, to acquire it, one had to give up a large portion of the cotton. In the process, the farmers started abandoning the farms, and skilled workers went to work for British companies in the end, the British took over the cotton business. The trick played by British people is quite cunning in that they devalue the cotton in order to gain it from the Indian farmers.
Works Cited
Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs and Steel. London: Orion Press, 2010. Print.
Robert, Marks. The Origins of the Modern World: A Global and Ecological Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-first Century. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007. Print.
