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Guns, Germs & Steel: A National Geographic Presentation
This three-part series brings to the screen Jared Diamond's sometimes controversial theories about the course of human civilization. Diamond's Pulitzer Prize-winning work offers a revealing look at the rise and fall of societies through the lens of geography, technology, biology and economics - forces symbolized by the power of guns, germs and steel. The series spans five continents and uses historical re-enactments to illustrate Diamond's theories, explaining why societies developed differently in different parts of the world - why some became conquerors and others the conquered. Jared Diamond hosts.
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Download Questions (PDF file - Adobe Reader required)
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How much credence do you give to Jared Diamond's theory that an accident of geography led to European dominance?
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If you disagree with Diamond's conclusions, how do you account for the dominance of certain groups (i.e. Europeans)? What, if any, similar traits did you see in other dominant civilizations that were compared in this show?
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What aspect of the series made the greatest impression on you? What did you find most enlightening? Impressive? Distressing?
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Why do you think conquest has been such an integral part of human history?
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What do you think fueled the European/American belief in the "genetic inferiority" of non-whites? What role, if any, do these beliefs play in society today?
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Diamond says the goal of his book was to find an explanation of history's events. What secrets does this show uncover for you?
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