Explain geographer Jared Diamond’s theory about why Europeans were able to colonize other regions.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Geographer Jared Diamond (1997) shows that one reason European states were so successful in colonizing the world—and not the other way around—was that they were fortunate to develop domesticated plants and animals that could live in many regions in Europe. That allowed their civilizations to grow and develop into powerful states that then searched and conquered much of the less-developed world. While food was not the sole source of their power, it did provide them with a strong base on which to develop. Similarly, modern Europe provides another example of the importance of agriculture. Compare the northern European states with southern European states. Northern Europe is wealthier and more developed. Why? Northern Europe had more fertile ground and thus needed less land to support its population and fewer farmers to produce the food. That meant more wealth and consequently greater industrialization, which led to more development. The same was not true for southern Europe. Farm productivity was lower, more resources were needed just to produce enough food, and so there was less wealth and less subsequent industrialization—both conditions that continue today. Agriculture may not be the powerful development engine that industry usually is, but without it, it’s hard to have industry.