Jared Diamond, a professor of geography at UCLA, has argued in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel that landmasses like Eurasia, which are wide and spread out latitudinally, developed faster than vertical landmasses like the Americas because it is easier to migrate latitudinally, mainly because the climate is more similar across a wide landmass than a vertical one.

The Advantages of a Wide Landmass

Diamond argues that the wide landmass of Eurasia allowed for the development of technologies, languages, and cultures to spread faster than in the Americas. This is because the wide landmass allowed for easier migration and communication between societies.
The wide landmass of Eurasia also allowed for the development of large, powerful empires. This allowed for the spread of technologies and ideas between societies, which allowed for faster development.

The Disadvantages of a Vertical Landmass

The vertical landmass of the Americas, on the other hand, made it much harder for societies to communicate and migrate. This meant that technologies, languages, and cultures did not spread as quickly as they did in Eurasia. The vertical landmass also made it harder for large, powerful empires to develop. This meant that the societies of the Americas remained isolated from each other, which hindered their development.

The Impact of Climate

Diamond argues that the climate of Eurasia also played a role in its faster development. The climate of Eurasia is similar across its wide landmass, which allowed for easier migration and communication between societies. In contrast, the climate of the Americas is much more varied. This made it harder for societies to migrate and communicate, which hindered their development.

Counter Arguments

Some scholars have argued that Diamond’s argument is too simplistic and overlooks other factors that could have contributed to the development of Eurasia. For example, some scholars have argued that the development of Eurasia was due to its geographic location, which allowed it to benefit from the exchange of goods and ideas from other societies. Other scholars have argued that the development of Eurasia was due to its political and economic systems, which allowed it to develop more quickly than the Americas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jared Diamond argues that the wide landmass of Eurasia allowed for faster development than the vertical landmass of the Americas. This is because the wide landmass allowed for easier migration and communication between societies, and the climate of Eurasia allowed for easier migration and communication. However, some scholars have argued that Diamond’s argument is too simplistic and overlooks other factors that could have contributed to the development of Eurasia. I personally think Jared makes a good point.

Sources:
Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
McNeill, William H. The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community. University of Chicago Press, 1991.
Robinson, Andrew. The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease. Vintage Books, 2013.

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