Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

Synopsis

"Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (also titled Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years) is a 1997 transdisciplinary non-fiction book by Jared Diamond, professor of geography and physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1998, Guns, Germs, and Steel won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction and the Aventis Prize for Best Science Book. A documentary based on the book, and produced by the National Geographic Society, was broadcast on PBS in July 2005." [Wikipedia] "This lesson explores, in depth, the theory of "geographic luck" outlined in detail in Episode One. Learning the basics about Jared Diamond's theory, students will explore how the location, natural resources, and the native species and climate provided in certain geographic regions led these civilizations to become more profitable, stronger, and more powerful than others around them. From this lesson students will learn about the importance of cultivating specific crops and the domestication of certain animals species and how these two advances led to significant advantages that advanced technology and built significant wealth and power in the world. . . . In Episode Three, students learn about the significant impact germs have had on the world's civilizations. Using this lesson, students will examine the role of germs in the great conquests of the world as well as the economic, social, and technological impact of the spread of germs and disease and how this continues to impact the balance of power in today's world." [pbs.org]

Genre

Documentary

Released

2005

Location

Global

No