<p> Writing Assignment for Guns, Germs, and Steel</p><p>BACKGROUND INFORMATION</p><p>Episode 1: Out of Eden According to UCLA biologist Jared Diamond, some countries developed more rapidly than others and were able to expand and conquer much of the world because of geographic luck. The natural resources available to them coupled with the native species and climate provided by their geography led them to become more agricultural and less reliant on hunting and gathering for sustenance. This agrarian lifestyle, in turn, allowed for the development of “specialists” within the civilization who could work on developing and perfecting the technologies necessary to make these civilizations more profitable, stronger, and more powerful than others around them. Diamond asserts that those living in temperate climates with indigenous animals that could be domesticated were more likely to develop advanced civilizations. </p><p>Essay Prompts (You only need to respond to ONE of these questions) 1) Why is it that Europeans ended up conquering so much of the world? 2) Why were Europeans able to conquer Native Americans, Africans, and Aboriginal Australians? 3) Why weren’t Native Americans, Africans, and Aboriginal Australians the ones who decimated, subjugated, or exterminated Europeans and Asians? 4) According to Jared Diamond, guns, germs, and steel have separated the “haves” from the “have nots.” What does this statement mean? How did geographic luck enable the “haves” to acquire guns, germs and steel? Why did certain parts of the world remain relatively poor and powerless? </p><p>Very Helpful Website: http://www.pbs.xorg/gunsgermssteel/index.html Use this website to research all things relating to Guns, Germs, and Steel. Click on the Variables tab to research crops, animals, germs (smallpox), technology (steel and writing). This research is vital to the success of your paper. </p><p>Vocabulary Word Bank Agriculture, domesticate, cultivate, Fertile Crescent, climate, latitude, food surplus, specialization of labor, indigenous, smallpox, immune, vaccine, proximate cause, ultimate cause Transition words</p><p>Words that can be used to show time: while first meanwhile soon then</p><p> after second today later next</p><p> at third tomorrow afterward as soon as</p><p> before now next week about when suddenly</p><p> during until yesterday finally </p><p>Word that can be used to compare two things:</p><p> likewise also while in the same way</p><p> like as similarly </p><p>Words that can be used to contrast two things:</p><p> but still although on the other hand</p><p> however yet otherwise even though</p><p>Words that can be used to emphasize a point:</p><p> again truly especially for this reason</p><p> to repeat in fact to emphasize </p><p>Words that can be used to conclude or summarize:</p><p> finally as a result to sum up in conclusion</p><p> lastly therefore all in all because</p><p>Words that can be used to add information:</p><p> again another for instance for example</p><p> also and moreover additionally</p><p> as well besides along with other</p><p> next finally in addition </p><p>Words that can be used to clarify:</p><p> that is for instance in other words</p>