Diamond argues that Eurasian
civilization is not so much a product of ingenuity, but of opportunity and necessity. That is, civilization is not created out of superior intelligence, but is the result of a chain of developments, each made possible by certain preconditions.
The first step towards civilization is the move from
nomadic hunter-gatherer to rooted
agrarian society. Several conditions are necessary for this transition to occur: access to high-carbohydrate vegetation that endures storage; a
climate dry enough to allow storage; and access to animals docile enough for
domestication and versatile enough to survive captivity. Control of
crops and livestock leads to food
surpluses. Surpluses free people to specialize in activities other than sustenance and support population growth. The combination of specialization and population growth leads to the accumulation of social and technological innovations which build on each other. Large societies develop
ruling classes and supporting
bureaucracies, which in turn lead to the organization of
nation-states and empires.
Although agriculture arose in several parts of the world, Eurasia gained an early advantage due to the greater availability of suitable plant and animal species for domestication. In particular, Eurasia has
barley, two varieties of wheat, and three protein-rich
pulses for food;
flax for textiles; and goats, sheep, and cattle. Eurasian grains were richer in protein, easier to sow, and easier to store than American maize or tropical bananas.
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