Below Are Two Questions Respond To One Question In An Essay

Below Are Two Questions Respond To One Question In an Essay Of Three

Below are two questions. Respond to ONE question in an essay of three to five pages. The essay is worth 50 points. Your essay should be typed, with 1 inch margins, double-spaced, with a font no larger than 12 pt. You may use any format that is supported by TurnItIn.com (see that website for list of supported formats).

It is not necessary to consult any sources other than your textbooks or lecture notes to compose a good (or even great) essay. If you do use outside sources, however, you must cite them. Online sources may be used to supplement the assigned readings, but not as a replacement. Do not use Wikipedia or online resources other than electronic resources available through the CSUN library (books, professional journals, or AnthroSource) or the online resources provided by the publishers of the textbooks. You may consult with other students in preparing your answers, but the work you submit must be your own.

Copying, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty will result in punishment, which includes (but is not limited to) receiving a failing grade in the course. In particular, anyone who cuts and pastes material from any internet source will receive an F in the course. I mention that latter point because someone does it every year. As with previous exams, you should upload your essays to TurnItIn.com, using the link available on the Moodle page for the site. You will find a “Final Exam” block on Moodle at the bottom of the web page. That block contains a copy of this file and a link to TurnItIn.com tagged "Submit Final Exam." Your papers are due no later than Midnight on Wednesday, May 13. It is your responsibility to ensure that the file uploads properly and that it contains the proper essay. Remember that you will receive a receipt from TurnItIn.com when your file is properly uploaded. If you do not receive the receipt or if you have any doubts, please contact me by e-mail before the due date and include a copy of your essay. Answers to essay questions do not need to be extremely long.

The essay is not a research paper, but a reflection on the course readings. Your answers should, however, minimally do the following: 1) Demonstrate that you understand the concepts to which the question refers by defining as necessary the key terms. 2) Illustrate key points with examples taken from lectures, readings, or other sources. 3) Answer all parts of the question.

Questions

1. One critic of Jared Diamond’s work wrote: "Like a Victorian moralist, Diamond lauds what he considers advances and warns of decline. His notions of virtuous leaders and societal courage are reminiscent of those of Gibbon and Toynbee, two historians who bracketed the Victorian era" (Joseph Tainter 2005). Diamond often refers to history as a race that has been won by Europe. For example, the first chapter is called “To the starting line.” Is Diamond just another unilineal evolutionist, like Augustine of Hippo, E.B. Tylor and L.H. Morgan, or does he avoid their mistakes? Does Diamond make a contribution with Guns, Germs, and Steel or is it an over-generalized just-so story? Justify your answer by discussing culture change and theories of unilineal evolution.

2. Does culture matter? Guns, Germs, and Steel addresses how western cultures came to dominate the world. In his text, however, Diamond seems to ignore why they would want to do so. Analyze the social and cultural factors that promoted European expansion and spread European culture around the world. Your discussion should include a discussion of World Systems Theory and the spread of European culture after 1400. Consider also whether Diamond’s book would be better if he included a discussion of culture as well as geography (you may wish to consider Diamond’s defense of his approach and the reasons why he thinks that culture is unimportant).

Paper For Above instruction

In this essay, I will examine whether Jared Diamond’s approach in Guns, Germs, and Steel reflects unilineal evolutionist perspectives or if it avoids their pitfalls. I will also analyze the role of culture in global dominance, considering social and cultural factors beyond geography, and evaluate Diamond’s positioning regarding these factors. The discussion will center around key theories of cultural change, unilineal evolution, and world systems to provide a comprehensive understanding of the arguments.

Diamond’s Perspective and the Unilineal Evolution Debate

Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel has often been criticized for perceived similarities to unilineal evolutionist theories, which postulate that societies follow a linear progression from primitive to advanced. Classic figures such as E.B. Tylor and L.H. Morgan envisioned a unilineal development driven primarily by technological and societal complexity (Tylor, 1871; Morgan, 1877). Critics argue that Diamond’s emphasis on geographical determinism—where environmental factors largely dictate societal success—resonates with these earlier evolutionary perspectives. However, Diamond avoids some of their pitfalls by emphasizing material and ecological factors over cultural attributes or moral qualities (Diamond, 1997). Unlike Victorian-era evolutionists, Diamond explicitly distances himself from the idea of racial superiority or moral worth, focusing instead on environmental contingencies that shape societal development.

In the context of cultural change theories, Diamond advocates that societies evolve along different trajectories primarily because of external environmental pressures, not intrinsic cultural or moral superiority. For example, the development of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent provided certain societies with a head start in technological and societal organization (Diamond, 1997). This aligns more with a materialist view than a unilineal one, as it suggests that environmental luck or geography plays a significant role in societal outcomes. Therefore, Diamond’s work can be interpreted as a nuanced form of environmental determinism rather than pure unilineal evolutionism.

Contribution of Guns, Germs, and Steel or Just-So Story?

Evaluating whether Diamond’s narrative is a valuable contribution or an overgeneralized just-so story depends on its explanatory power and empirical basis. Critics like Tainter (2005) argue that Diamond oversimplifies complex historical processes into deterministic environmental factors. However, others contend that by resisting racial explanations and emphasizing ecological conditions, Diamond offers a compelling framework for understanding broad patterns of societal success and failure (Diamond, 1995). Empirical examples such as the domestication of plants and animals, the spread of technology, and epidemiological factors support his thesis, although acknowledging exceptions and regional variances.

From a cultural change perspective, Diamond’s theory underscores that environmental advantages translate into societal power, which then influences cultural diffusion and dominance. These processes align with theories of cultural evolution that highlight adaptation and diffusion rather than unilinear progress. Accordingly, his hypothesis does not deny cultural agency but situates it within environmental constraints, thus avoiding the overly deterministic narrative of Victorian evolutionists.

Culture, Expansion, and European Domination

Turning to the question of whether culture matters, Diamond’s focus on geography often appears to neglect the complex social and cultural motivations behind European expansion. European cultural phenomena like nationalism, religious zeal, and political institutions—elements that motivated imperialism—are underrepresented in his analysis (Lyons & Papadopoulos, 2018). These factors contributed to European expansion by fostering a sense of superiority and common purpose, motivating exploration and conquest beyond mere geographical advantages.

The World Systems Theory, developed by Immanuel Wallerstein (1974), offers a framework to understand how European expansion was driven by economic and political motives embedded in a capitalist world economy. This perspective emphasizes core-periphery relations, where European nations exploited colonies for economic gain, spreading their cultural and political systems globally. The dissemination of European culture—language, religion, legal systems—was instrumental in establishing dominance and shaping societal structures worldwide. Without integrating these cultural elements, Diamond’s thesis risks underestimating the intentional and ideological dimensions of European expansion.

While Diamond claims that geography and environment explain much of societal success, his defense warrants scrutiny because cultural factors such as motivation, ideology, and social institutions also played critical roles. Incorporating a broader cultural perspective would enrich understanding of the complex interplay between environment and human agency in historical processes, making his analysis more comprehensive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel largely avoids the pitfalls of Victorian unilineal evolutionism by emphasizing environmental factors over moral or racial judgments, thus contributing a materialist perspective to understanding societal development. However, his focus on geography minimizes the role of cultural and social motivations in European expansion. While environmental determinism explains many broad patterns, a nuanced understanding of history requires acknowledging the importance of cultural factors like ideology, social structures, and political motives. Integrating these elements with geographical analysis would provide a more holistic view of human history and societal success.

References

• Diamond, J. (1995). Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Diamond, J. (1997). Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Lyons, T., & Papadopoulos, T. (2018). Cultural Dimensions of European Imperialism. Journal of World History, 29(2), 319-344.
• Morgan, L. H. (1877). Ancient Society. Harper & Brothers.
• Tainter, J. (2005). Review of Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel. American Anthropologist, 107(3), 440-441.
• Tylor, E. B. (1871). The Origin of Culture. John Murray.
• Wallerstein, I. (1974). The Modern World-System. Academic Press.