spacious skies & tilted axes … the benefits of an east/west orientation

“Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes …”

The Benefits of an

East/West Orientation

Spacious Skies & Tilted AxesFrom Guns, Germs and Steel, p 177

Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes

• Diffusion of:– Plants and Animals:– Agricultural techniques– Other Technologies


• Examine Three Regions:– Eurasia (Diffusion from Fertile Crescent)– Africa– The Americas

– First, Eurasia …

Spacious Skies & Tilted AxesSpacious Skies & Tilted Axes

From Guns, Germs and Steel, p 177


• Reasons for Rapid Diffusion in Eurasia:– Similar growing conditions– Little preemptive domestication– East/West Axis Predominant in Eurasia


• Why was East/West Axis Important:– Locations distributed East to West share the

same latitude, generally leading to other similarities:

• Same day length• Seasonal variations• Rainfall & temperatures• Similar diseases• Types of vegetation


• Plants Programmed to Latitudinal FactorsDay length | Seed germinationSeasons | Seedling growthClimate | Flowering & baring fruit

• Same for Animals• Bottom Line: East/West Axis Allowed

Easier Diffusion in Eurasia


• Africa and Americas had Limited Diffusion due to North-South Orientation– Except for a few animals, the FC package did not

arrive in S. Africa until Europeans arrived in 1652

– Except for Mexican corn, little diffusion occurred between: US – Mexico – Andes

– Note: Evidence of little preemptive diffusion in Africa and Americas


• Caveat:– Latitude is not the only factor– Local topography and ecology play a role

• North America• FC -> India• FC -> China• FC -> Africa


• Extension:– The principle of East/West diffusion applies to

agriculture and much more• Wheel (ox carts)• Writing (royal propaganda, food inventories

& bureaucratic record keeping)

– While not directly related to ag diffusion, technological transfers followed the spread of food production.

ULTIMATE FACTORS

PROXIMATE FACTORS

east-west axis

ease of species spreading

food surplus, food storage

large, dense, sedentary, stratified societies

ease of species spreading

many domesticated plant and animal species

many suitable wild species

technology

horses guns, steel,

swords

ocean-going ships

political organization,

writing

epidemicdisease

From Guns, Germs and Steel, p 87

Assigned Readings

Course Reader G G S

For Wednesday: Library Tour-------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Friday: MID-TERM EXAM-------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Next Monday: Course (at least to p. 78) Reader G G SMedievil Section pp60-93By Walburger

spacious skies & tilted axes … the benefits of an east/west orientation

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