Discussion on "Why Did Human History Unfold Differently On Different Continents For The Last 13,000 Years?"

History repeats. This is a simple yet powerful statement. Any individual who has any understanding of history understands the constant recurrence of mistakes in almost all aspects of history. The repeating of history, however, is not limited to mistakes. It is evident in the development of the world the past 13,000 years. In his article, Jared Diamond discusses why history unfolded differently on the continents of the world. In essence, history repeated in such a way that Europe and Asia developed at a more rapid and consistent pace than did the Americas, Africa, and Australia and conquered nations in the less developed countries with ease. 

So why did Europe and Asia develop more than the other continents? Diamond does not attribute this dominance to differences in human biology, but rather in the resources, technology, geography, political organization, and other variables. 

In the Americas, the Aztecs and Mayans lacked the iron weapons possessed by the Europeans and were unable to defend themselves with stone weapons. They simply had insufficient technology to develop at a rate comparable to the Europeans. 

The domestication of animals and plants also played a major role in the rapid development of Europe and Asia. First, Europe had more mammals and plants that met the prerequisites for domestication, whereas the other continents had 1 or  2 max. These domestic animals, however, came with diseases and when brought to the Americas, played a role in the destruction of the natives' populations.

The domestication of animals also allowed Europe to advance past the hunter and gatherer lifestyle. Animals made farming easier and more output was produced. As Europe became more efficient, the population began to increase. With a greater population, it became easier to invent and innovate, resulting in a more advanced society. 

Therefore, the environmental different rates of progression among the seven continents. Europe and Asia did not advance more rapidly than the other continents because they are more advanced humans. They lived in an environment that provided the resources necessary to grow that the other continents lacked. 

This simple concept can be applied to the modern global economy. The world's superpowers should be utilizing their wealth, power, and resources to help developing nations grow and become more in tune with modern technology and social structures. This could help lessen the gap between the wealthy nations and those who simply do not have a way to compete in the world.