GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL SUMMARY PROLOGUE: YALI'S QUESTION. Throughout history, different regional groups of peoples have developed different technologies at different speeds from one another. Historians have long sought answers as to what social and environmental factors could lead to such a disparate rate of advancement. The most prominent example of this phenomenon is Eurasia's development of advanced technology and political systems thousands of years before much of the world. This higher level of organization …
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showed last 75 words of 2143 total
…their success or failure. As exemplified by the European invasion of the Americas, better technology can overcome many other advantages of a people. CHAPTER 14: FROM EGALITARIANISM TO KLEPTOCRACY The stages of a society are as follows: The band- 5 to 80 people, nomadic. The tribe- hundreds of people, united by language/religion. Chiefdoms- thousands of people, develop specialization. States- over 50,000 people, one or more languages, complex government. -Kleptocrats control population by placating and providing for the people.