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Guns, Germs, and Steel – Viewing Guide – Discussion Prep Notes
Episode 1: Out of Eden / Geographic Luck
1. According to Jared Diamond, what are the three major elements that separate the world’s “haves” from the “have nots”?
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.
Contrast the types of crops available in the Fertile Crescent and New Guinea (wheat and barley as opposed to roots and
bananas). Wheat and barley had a higher nutritive value—could be stored for longer periods – finally allowed a larger
population to develop and a surplus in food (and workers) – which allowed for specialists to develop—which allowed people to
put down roots, build villages, cities, etc. – give up being hunters and gatherers.
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.
Domesticating crops – people interfere with what happens in nature (planting and harvesting times could be altered)—they
select the “best” seed (tastiest, easiest to harvest) to plant in the next harvest to increase the harvest.
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.
Breeding animals for use as meat and for their milk—and for providing other resources (skins for clothing, housing, etc)—
using the animals as beasts of burden to plow, using them for warfare and transportation – gave these people an advantage
over people in other areas of the world that did not have these animals – such as New Guinea. Also—the farm animals were
important to farming—they could eat the stubble from the harvested fields and would produce fertilizer for the fields.
5. List the animals that can be domesticated and where they were native to….:.
South America: llama
Asia, North Africa, and Europe: goats, sheep, pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, camels, water buffalo, reindeer, yaks
6. Looking at the list of animals and locations from question 5, discuss how Diamond’s theory about geographically luck applies here.
Domesticated animals led to greater productivity, and the majority of these domesticable were native to the temperate climates
of the world where the most powerful civilization developed.
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?
The Fertile Crescent had a dry climate and a fragile environment (too fragile for the number of people that developed)—the
people of the time did not practice any conservation methods—and ended up over-exploiting the land and environment. Over
time, the land could no longer support them – the fact that the Fertile Crescent shared the same latitude with Europe and Asia
allowed them to move along with their crops and farm animals to these areas and continue to thrive. Had they not lived
adjacent to these land masses that could support them, their crops, and animals – they might have died out.
8. Do you agree with Jared Diamond when he says of a civilizations 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?
Or is it – the people themselves and the choices they make – does it ALL boil down to ONLY geography and luck?
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Episode 2: Conquest / the Great Conqueror
1. At the time of the Spanish conquistador’s invaded the Inca Empire, they were armed with state of the art weaponry. Describe the
weaponry.
Horses that made the Spaniards appear god-like (half man- half beast warriors),
body armor,
guns, and
steel swords
2. What is Jared Diamond’s explanation for how the Spanish had advanced to steel swords while Inca’s were still making tools and
weapons from bronze?
Because Europe was geographically close to the Fertile Crescent, they inherited the 7,000 years of metal technology that had
been developed there over time. Because they had a diversified society that allowed for specialization, the Spanish devoted time
and effort to producing the longest, strongest, and sharpest swords possible.
Can civilizations advance if they don’t have a diversified society that allows for specialization?
For civilizations or societies that do not advance – is the sole reason because they weren’t able to develop a diversified society?
3. How did the battle tactics used by the Spanish conquistadors help the small army defeat the Inca army that outnumbered them by
the thousands?
The Spaniards began by surprising the Inkas, firing their guns and coming out of hiding on horseback. As they rode, the
conquistadors used their swords to hack, cut, and stab Incas who were panicking and fleeing rather than standing firm—keep
in mind that historians have concluded that the Inkas were not armed the day of the attack. Had the Inkas known more about
the Spaniards fighting style—they could have conquered the Spaniards by sheer numbers if they had stood their ground (160
Spaniards against 80,000 Inkas).
Prisoners in POW camps vs. guards.
4. According to Jared Diamond, what made the Europeans “accidental conquerors”?
Because of their geographic location and history, the Europeans were the first to conquer guns and steel and were therefore
able to conquer other lesser-developed civilizations. The death of so many native Americans by European diseases was (at
first) purely accidental as well.
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Episode 3: Into the Tropics / The Power of Germs
1. According to Jared Diamond, what is the one factor that allowed Europeans to develop the forces necessary to conquer vast portions
of the world?
Geography—having the most productive crops and animals allowed Europeans to develop guns, germs, and steel, and
ultimately, to conquer the world.
Remember—where did the germs/disease come from…. Originally from farm animals that some Europeans eventually
developed immunities to.
2. Why were the Europeans who settled the South African cape so successful? Describe two reasons.
1. the temperature
2. the climate
Both of these were nearly the same as what the Europeans had at home—because the Cape and Europe have a similar latitude
(distance from the equator)—they can grow the same types of crops and raise the same types of livestock in Africa as they did
back home in Europe…… (until they headed north into the tropics).
3. How did disease allow the Europeans to conquer the native populations in the Americas and in the African cape?
Europeans introduced germs that these populations had never before been exposed to primarily smallpox. Because Europeans
had been exposed to the disease over the course of centuries – many developed natural resistance to these diseases. When the
people of the Americas and the South African cape came into contact with these germs, they were killed in massive numbers,
making settlement of these lands much easier for the Europeans.
4. While the Europeans who were attempting to overtake/settle the tropical areas of the African continent were responsible for
introducing killer germs to the native populations, they also suffered from the effects of the germs native to this part of the world.
Describe how these germs worked against the European settlers.
The Europeans were experiencing a reversal of the pattern they were used to. Rather than introducing germs to the people
they hoped to conquer, they were being infected by the germs that were indigenous to Africa (the tropics--- such as Malaria)
and losing their livestock and their own lives as a result.
What about “African” cattle – that was mentioned… if the African people had cattle…. does this mean that they should have
had the “tools” to advance themselves?
5. How did the native Africans protect themselves from the germs that caused diseases such as Smallpox and Malaria? Give specific
examples cited in the film.
The native Africans (in the tropics) had developed immunity to Smallpox through repeated exposure over thousands of years
and vaccinations they had developed that could provide immunity for life. In addition, the Africans also knew how to avoid
disease like Malaria by preventing infection. This was done by choosing to live in high, dry areas where the mosquitoes
responsible for spreading the disease do not typically live. Because the Africans lived in small groups/communities that were
spread out over relatively larger areas, they could minimize the transmission of diseases such as Malaria when outbreaks
occurred. Because European settlers did not understand the causes of Malaria – they concentrated their settlements near
rivers and water sources where they faced the greatest exposure to Malaria. Because they all live in close proximity, epidemics
were frequent and deadly to the settlers.
6. How has the colonization of Africa created countries riddled with disease? Give specific examples from the film.
Because European colonists in the late 1800s forced the native Africans out of their small villages and into cities and large, crowded
communities to mine and ferry the continent’s natural resources – they took the successful economic and social systems away from
these people.
By putting to many people together in areas where diseases like Malaria are easily spread, the native populations have lost the
immunity they once had to these diseases. This is caused, in part, by the strains of the disease mutating, causing drugs to be
less effective. As a result, there are high numbers of people infected with and dying from diseases like Malaria. In addition—
new disease such as HIV/AIDS are now also spread more easily because of so many people living in densely populated areas.
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Even if the Europeans had not forced the native Africans into urban areas in the 1800s – would large urban areas have never
been developed on their own?
7. What is the number one public health problem in Zambia, and who are the people primarily affected by this?
Malaria – it is the one number one killer of African children under the age of 5.
Who is now working hard with his money to rid the world of Malaria? –--Bill Gates
8. How has disease contributed to the poverty in many African countries such as Zambia?
It has decreased life expectancy dramatically – the average lifespan in Zambia is only 35 years – because the disease affects so
many children so frequently, many mothers who would normally be working and contributing to the society are instead sitting
in hospitals nursing sick children.
9. According to statistics from the film, how has Malaria affected the net growth in Africa over the last 50 years?
Malaria has cause 1% NEGATIVE growth in Africa EACH YEAR for the past 50 years – this has causes them to become
poverty stricken (parents die young and cannot support children….etc.)
10. Describe how other tropical countries such as Malaysia and Singapore have developed rich economies despite having many of the
same geographical and health problems faced by African nations.
By understanding their environment and realizing the burdens that they geography and certain germs could cause—these
governments planned and executed measures to eliminate diseases like Malaria. As a result, they were able to develop rich
economies and capitalize on the positive aspects of their geography.
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