Matthew Bishop

11/25/19

                                                                  Guns, Germs and Steel

Viewing Guide:  Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 1

Directions: Before viewing the film, read each question below so you know what information and ideas you should be looking for as you watch Episode 1. Record your answers to each question by providing as many facts, details, and examples as possible to answer each question.

1. According to Jared Diamond, what are the three major elements that separate the world’s  “haves” from the “have nots”?

Three elements are Guns, Germs and Steel.

2. Jared Diamond refers to the people of New Guinea as “among the world’s most culturally diverse and adaptable people in the world”, yet they have much less than modern Americans.Diamond has developed a theory about what has caused these huge discrepancies among different countries, and he says it boils down to geographic luck. Give several examples from the film to support Diamond’s theory.

America has had crops that are more nutritious than ones in New Guinea.

America has had the animals to obtain more nutritious foods in many different ways, and New Guinea doesn't have access to these animals.

 3. For thousands of years, people have been cultivating crops. Describe the process used to domesticate crops and create plants that yielded bigger, tastier harvests.

Crop domestication is the process that of artificially selecting plants to be used for humans.
4. According to Diamond, livestock also plays a significant role in a civilization’s ability to 

 become rich and powerful. How did the domestication of animals help people? Give several examples.

These animals that were domesticated could provide a food source with its meat, a clothing source with its hair, and a transportation source. They also helped farmers plow their crops much quicker, leading to an increase in money because crops were being harvested much quicker.

5. List the animals that can be domesticated and where they can be found.

Cows, ox, pigs, sheep, goats, buffalo, horses, and camels. Found in the US.

6. Looking at the list of animals and locations from question 5, discuss how Diamond’s theory about geographic luck applies here.

Some places are lucky enough to have these domesticated animals to help them eat, farm, and much more while some places don't have these domesticated animals, and they are a step behind and just got unlucky with their geographic location.

7. How did the movement of the early civilizations of the Fertile Crescent (Middle East) further support Diamond’s idea that geography played a key role in the success of a civilization?

It supported his ideas because they were home to the first civilizations in the world, with real homes, that were decorated and this is because they had great animals and crops to farm, giving them a huge head start.

8. Do you agree with Jared Diamond when he says of a civilization's ability to gain power, 

 wealth, and strength, “…what’s far more important is the hand that people have been dealt, the raw materials they’ve had at their disposal.” Why or why not?

I agree because these civilizations need these resources to gain in power, wealth and strength. If they had good crops to grow and good animals to domesticate, they would be more wealthy, and have more power. Some places and people are lucky with their geographic locations and some places and people are unlucky.