Therefore, there is a strong connection between agriculture and our evolution. Their strong immunity was passed down to their children, which fortified our genes in time. In time, people from those regions grew immune to diseases, while in different parts of the world others were still struggling to grow food and fight minor sicknesses. However, living alongside animals also meant more germs and diseases. Better food meant better health, improved cognitive functions, and more developed society. In time, people discovered cooking plants, growing seeds, use animals as sources of food and labor.Īll these discoveries helped us reach the state of humanity we know today. The first civilizations to differentiate themselves from others used agriculture to develop a better world, around 11,000 years ago. The first human beings emerged in Africa, but they soon left to spread in search of food and a better life. In Mesopotamia, archeologists found the first traces of specialized agriculture, followed by China and Mesoamerica. More precisely, it seems that agriculture contributed to the first flourishing societies. The reason behind some nations’ advanced developments can be traced back to a common, low-interest idea – food.

If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.ĭownload PDF Lesson 1: Mesopotamia was the first region in the world where people started to practice agriculture. Let’s learn in-depth about human evolution and learn some pretty interesting facts about how we ended up where we are today by looking at each lesson in detail below. Environmental factors played the biggest role in today’s international discrepancies.Languages emerged as a result of keeping records of agricultural work.The origins of the modern world could be traced back to the first form of agriculture in Mesopotamia.Let’s explore the answers to these questions by looking at three of the most important lessons from the book: So, why have different groups from various territories skyrocketed in their advancements, while others stagnate even today? Using a multidisciplinary approach that draws on anthropology, biology, evolution, and socioeconomics, he charts the course of human history from prehistoric times up to the present day. 1-Sentence-Summary: Guns, Germs, and Steel is a multidisciplinary study that employs anthropological, biological, evolutionary, and socio-economic analyses to chart the fates of different peoples throughout human history and understand why some groups succeeded to develop and advance, while others haven’t.Īnthropologist and historian Jared Diamond tackles the questions “Why do some societies thrive while others fail?” and “Why are some people more successful than others?” in Guns, Germs, and Steel (1997).

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