Civilizations and Civilizations and World religionsWorld religions

3rd Lecture. Classical and 3rd Lecture. Classical and Contemporary Theories on Contemporary Theories on

CivilizationsCivilizations

Stages of development Stages of development toward a civilizationtoward a civilization

We call „civilization” a highly developed, complex We call „civilization” a highly developed, complex and stratified society, which presupposes a longer and stratified society, which presupposes a longer period of history of evolution. The four main stages period of history of evolution. The four main stages of this development are:of this development are: 1. 1. Hunter-gatherer bandsHunter-gatherer bands, which are generally egalitarian, which are generally egalitarian.. 2. 2. Horticultural/pastoral societiesHorticultural/pastoral societies in which there are in which there are

generally two inherited social classes; chief and commoner. generally two inherited social classes; chief and commoner. 3. 3. Highly stratified structuresHighly stratified structures, or chiefdoms, with several , or chiefdoms, with several

inherited social classes: king, noble, freemen, serf and inherited social classes: king, noble, freemen, serf and slave. slave.

4. 4. Civilizations,Civilizations, with complex social hierarchies and with complex social hierarchies and organized, institutional governments.organized, institutional governments.

Sources: 1. Sources: 1. DeVore, Irven, and Lee, Richard (1999) DeVore, Irven, and Lee, Richard (1999) "Man the Hunter" (Aldine)"Man the Hunter" (Aldine). 2. . 2. Beck, Roger B.; Linda Beck, Roger B.; Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, Dahia Ibo Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, Dahia Ibo Shabaka, (1999). Shabaka, (1999). World History: Patterns of World History: Patterns of InteractionInteraction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell. . Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell.

Oswald Spengler (1880-1936) was a historian, Oswald Spengler (1880-1936) was a historian, philosopher, who presented his classical, overall philosopher, who presented his classical, overall modell about the development of civilizations, though modell about the development of civilizations, though in a highly constructive, speculative way, in his two in a highly constructive, speculative way, in his two volumes main work: „The Decline of the West”, volumes main work: „The Decline of the West”, („Untergang des Abendlandes”), 1918, 1922.(„Untergang des Abendlandes”), 1918, 1922.

According to his interpretation civilizations are just According to his interpretation civilizations are just like living organisms, which are born, which grow up, like living organisms, which are born, which grow up, get old and finally die. get old and finally die.

He listed eight major civilizations: He listed eight major civilizations: Babylonian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican (Mayan/Aztec), Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican (Mayan/Aztec), Classical (Greek/Roman), Arabian, Western or Classical (Greek/Roman), Arabian, Western or "European-American". "European-American". In a metaphoric manner he In a metaphoric manner he spoke about the „spring”, „summer” and „winter” spoke about the „spring”, „summer” and „winter” phases of a civilization.phases of a civilization.

Classical theories 1b. Oswald Classical theories 1b. Oswald Spengler „The Decline of the Spengler „The Decline of the

West” 2.West” 2. „„Cultures are organisms, and world-history is their

collective biography”, (Spengler, 1996: 104). „”, (Spengler, 1996: 104). „In the destinies of the several Cultures that follow upon one another, grow up with one another, touch, overshadow, and suppress one another, is compressed the whole content of human history.”, (loc. cit.).”, (loc. cit.).

„„Culture is the prime-phenomenon of all past and future world-history”, (op. cit. 105). „”, (op. cit. 105). „Every Culture passes through the age-phases of the individual man Each has its childhood, youth, manhood and old age”, (op. cit. ”, (op. cit. 107).107).

„„Looked at in this way, the ‘Decline of the West’ comprises nothing less than the problem of Civilisation. We have before us one of the fundamental questions of all higher history. What is Civilization, understood as the organiclogical sequel, fulfilment and finale of a culture?”, (op. cit. 31). ”, (op. cit. 31).

Classical theories 1c. Oswald Classical theories 1c. Oswald Spengler „The Decline of the Spengler „The Decline of the

West” 3.West” 3.„„For every Culture has its own Civilization. In this work, for the first time the two words, hitherto used to express an indefinite, more or less ethical, distinction, are used in a periodic sense, to express a strict and necessary organic succession. The Civilization is the inevitable destiny of the Culture, and in this rinciple we obtain the viewpoint from which the deepest and gravest problems of historical morphology become capable of solution. Civilizations are the most external and artificial states of which a species of developed humanity is capable. They are a conclusion, the thing-become succeeding the thingbecoming, death following life, rigidity following expansion, intellectual age and the stone-built, petrifying world-city following mother-earth and the spiritual childhood of Doric and Gothic They are an end, irrevocable, yet by inward necessity reached again and again.”, (loc. cit.).”, (loc. cit.).

Classical theories 2a. Arnold J. Classical theories 2a. Arnold J. Toynbee.Toynbee.

The challange-answer theory The challange-answer theory 1.1. Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975) was a Brittish historian, on whom Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975) was a Brittish historian, on whom

Spengler’s ideas had a great influence, but who rejected Spengler’s ideas had a great influence, but who rejected Spengler’s biologist view on civilizations, and his conception about Spengler’s biologist view on civilizations, and his conception about the unavoidable destiny of them. the unavoidable destiny of them. „„In 1934-1954, Toynbee's ten-volume In 1934-1954, Toynbee's ten-volume A Study of HistoryA Study of History came out in came out in

three separate installments. He followed Oswald Spengler in taking a three separate installments. He followed Oswald Spengler in taking a comparative topical approach to independent civilizations. Toynbee's comparative topical approach to independent civilizations. Toynbee's said they displayed striking parallels in their origin, growth, and decay. said they displayed striking parallels in their origin, growth, and decay. Toynbee rejected Spengler's biological model of civilizations as Toynbee rejected Spengler's biological model of civilizations as organisms with a typical life span of 1,000 years.organisms with a typical life span of 1,000 years.

Of the 21 civilizations Toynbee identified, sixteen were dead by 1940 Of the 21 civilizations Toynbee identified, sixteen were dead by 1940 and four of the remaining five were under severe pressure from the and four of the remaining five were under severe pressure from the one named Western Christendom - or simply The West. He explained one named Western Christendom - or simply The West. He explained breakdowns of civilizations as a failure of creative power in the breakdowns of civilizations as a failure of creative power in the creative minority, which henceforth becomes a merely 'dominant' creative minority, which henceforth becomes a merely 'dominant' minority; that is followed by an answering withdrawal of allegiance minority; that is followed by an answering withdrawal of allegiance and mimesis on the part of the majority; finally there is a consequent and mimesis on the part of the majority; finally there is a consequent loss of social unity in the society as a whole.loss of social unity in the society as a whole.

Toynbee explained decline as due to their moral failure. Many readers, Toynbee explained decline as due to their moral failure. Many readers, especially in America, rejoiced in his implication (in vols. 1-6) that only especially in America, rejoiced in his implication (in vols. 1-6) that only a return to some form of Christianity could halt the breakdown of a return to some form of Christianity could halt the breakdown of western civilization which began with the Reformation. Volumes 7-10, western civilization which began with the Reformation. Volumes 7-10, published in 1954 abandoned the religious message and his popular published in 1954 abandoned the religious message and his popular audience slipped away, while scholars gleefully picked apart his audience slipped away, while scholars gleefully picked apart his mistakes.mistakes.”, (Source: ”, (Source: WikipediaWikipedia).).

Classical theories 2b. Arnold J. Classical theories 2b. Arnold J. Toynbee.Toynbee.

The challange-answer theory The challange-answer theory 2.2. „„Toynbee's ideas and approach to history may be said to Toynbee's ideas and approach to history may be said to

fall into the discipline of Comparativefall into the discipline of Comparative history. While they history. While they may be compared to those used by Oswald Spengler in may be compared to those used by Oswald Spengler in The Decline of the WestThe Decline of the West, he rejected Spengler's , he rejected Spengler's deterministic view that civilizations rise and fall deterministic view that civilizations rise and fall according to a natural and inevitable cycle. For Toynbee, according to a natural and inevitable cycle. For Toynbee, a civilization might or might not continue to thrive, a civilization might or might not continue to thrive, depending on the challenges it faced and its responses to depending on the challenges it faced and its responses to them.them.

Toynbee presented history as the rise and fall of Toynbee presented history as the rise and fall of civilizations, rather than the history of nation-states or of civilizations, rather than the history of nation-states or of ethnic groups. He identified his civilizations according to ethnic groups. He identified his civilizations according to cultural or religious rather than national criteria. Thus, cultural or religious rather than national criteria. Thus, the the ‘‘Western CivilizationWestern Civilization’’, comprising all the nations that , comprising all the nations that have existed in Western Europe since the collapse of the have existed in Western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, was treated as a whole, and Western Roman Empire, was treated as a whole, and distinguished from both the distinguished from both the ‘‘OrthodoxOrthodox’’ civilization of civilization of Russia and the Balkans, and from the Greco-Roman Russia and the Balkans, and from the Greco-Roman civilization that preceded it.civilization that preceded it.”, (loc.cit.).”, (loc.cit.).

Classical theories 2c. Arnold J. Classical theories 2c. Arnold J. Toynbee.Toynbee.

The challange-answer theory The challange-answer theory 3.3. „„With the civilizations as units identified, he presented the With the civilizations as units identified, he presented the

history of each in terms of challenge-and-response. Civilizations history of each in terms of challenge-and-response. Civilizations arose in response to some set of challenges of extreme difficulty, arose in response to some set of challenges of extreme difficulty, when when ‘‘creative minoritiescreative minorities’’ devised solutions that reoriented their devised solutions that reoriented their entire society. entire society.

Challenges and responses were physical, as when the Sumerians Challenges and responses were physical, as when the Sumerians exploited the intractable swamps of southern Iraq by organizing exploited the intractable swamps of southern Iraq by organizing the Neolithic inhabitants into a society capable of carrying out the Neolithic inhabitants into a society capable of carrying out large-scale irrigation projects; or social, as when the Catholic large-scale irrigation projects; or social, as when the Catholic Church resolved the chaos of post-Roman Europe by enrolling Church resolved the chaos of post-Roman Europe by enrolling the new Germanic kingdoms in a single religious community. the new Germanic kingdoms in a single religious community.

When a civilization responds to challenges, it grows. When a civilization responds to challenges, it grows. Civilizations declined when their leaders stopped responding Civilizations declined when their leaders stopped responding creatively, and the civilizations then sank owing to nationalism, creatively, and the civilizations then sank owing to nationalism, militarism, and the tyranny of a despotic minority. Toynbee militarism, and the tyranny of a despotic minority. Toynbee argued that argued that ‘‘Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.’’ For For Toynbee, civilizations were not intangible or unalterable Toynbee, civilizations were not intangible or unalterable machines but a network of social relationships within the border machines but a network of social relationships within the border and therefore subject to both wise and unwise decisions they and therefore subject to both wise and unwise decisions they made.made.”, (loc.cit.).”, (loc.cit.).

Classical theories 3a. Norbert Classical theories 3a. Norbert Elias, Elias,

„The Civilizing Process” 1.„The Civilizing Process” 1. Norbert Elias (1897-1990) was a German-born sociologist Norbert Elias (1897-1990) was a German-born sociologist

and historian, who had to flee in 1933 because of his and historian, who had to flee in 1933 because of his Jewish origin, and later became a British citizen. His main Jewish origin, and later became a British citizen. His main work is „The Civilizing Process”, 1939, („Über den Prozeß work is „The Civilizing Process”, 1939, („Über den Prozeß der Zivilization”), in two volumes.der Zivilization”), in two volumes.

Norbert Elias described „the process of civilization” as a Norbert Elias described „the process of civilization” as a slow and very long change and development of the slow and very long change and development of the structures of personality, which he traced back to the structures of personality, which he traced back to the changes of social structures.changes of social structures.

It is important to mention that he formulated his model of It is important to mention that he formulated his model of development first of all concerning the history of Western development first of all concerning the history of Western Europe between cca. 800 and 1900.Europe between cca. 800 and 1900.

Factors of social changes, according to him, are on the one Factors of social changes, according to him, are on the one hand the continual technical, technological development hand the continual technical, technological development and the differentiation and stratification of societies, and and the differentiation and stratification of societies, and on the other hand the permanent competition and on the other hand the permanent competition and elimination contest among men and groups.elimination contest among men and groups.

Classical theories 3b. Norbert Classical theories 3b. Norbert Elias, Elias,

„The Civilizing Process” 2.„The Civilizing Process” 2. „„The first volume, The first volume, The History of MannersThe History of Manners, traces the , traces the

historical developments of the European historical developments of the European habitushabitus, or , or ‘‘second nature,second nature,’’ the particular individual psychic the particular individual psychic structures molded by social attitudes. Elias traced how structures molded by social attitudes. Elias traced how post-medieval European standards regarding violence, post-medieval European standards regarding violence, sexual behaviour, bodily functions, table manners and sexual behaviour, bodily functions, table manners and forms of speech were gradually transformed by forms of speech were gradually transformed by increasing thresholds of shame and repugnance, working increasing thresholds of shame and repugnance, working outward from a nucleus in court etiquette. The outward from a nucleus in court etiquette. The internalized internalized ‘‘self-restraintself-restraint’’ imposed by increasingly imposed by increasingly complex networks of social connections developed the complex networks of social connections developed the ‘‘psychologicalpsychological’’ self-perceptions that Freud recognized as self-perceptions that Freud recognized as the the ‘‘super-ego.super-ego.’’ ””

„„The second volume, The second volume, State Formation and CivilizationState Formation and Civilization, , looks into the causes of these processes and finds them looks into the causes of these processes and finds them in the increasingly centralized Early Modern state and in the increasingly centralized Early Modern state and the increasingly differentiated and interconnected web of the increasingly differentiated and interconnected web of society. society. ”, (Source: Wikipedia).”, (Source: Wikipedia).

Modern Theories 1. Fukuyama Modern Theories 1. Fukuyama and the End of Historyand the End of History

Francis Fukuyama (1952-) is an American political Francis Fukuyama (1952-) is an American political scientist, political economist and historian. He is best scientist, political economist and historian. He is best known for his book „The End of History and the Last known for his book „The End of History and the Last Man”, 1992.Man”, 1992.

„„I argued that liberal democracy may constitute the ‘end point of mankind's ideological evolution’ and the ‘final form of human government,’ and as such constituted the ‘end of history.’ That is, while earlier forms of government were characterized by grave defects and irrationalities that led to their eventual collapse, liberal democracy was arguably free from such fundamental internal contradictions.””

Our future will not be characterized by inspiring and Our future will not be characterized by inspiring and magnifique fights for ideas anymore, but by earth-magnifique fights for ideas anymore, but by earth-bound technological and economic questions. Our bound technological and economic questions. Our future will be peaceful, but somehow future will be peaceful, but somehow boringboring..

Modern Theories 2a. Modern Theories 2a. Huntington and the Clash of Huntington and the Clash of

Civilizations 1.Civilizations 1. Samuel P. Huntington (1927-2008) was a political Samuel P. Huntington (1927-2008) was a political

scientist, historian, the Phd-supervisor of Fukuyama scientist, historian, the Phd-supervisor of Fukuyama on Yale University. He wrote a polemic book with the on Yale University. He wrote a polemic book with the title „The Clash of Civilizations” in 1993 as an answer title „The Clash of Civilizations” in 1993 as an answer to the work of his former student, Francis Fukuyama. to the work of his former student, Francis Fukuyama.

„„Huntington began his thinking by surveying the Huntington began his thinking by surveying the diverse theories about the nature of global politics in diverse theories about the nature of global politics in the post-Cold War period. Some theorists and writers the post-Cold War period. Some theorists and writers argued that human rights, liberal democracy and argued that human rights, liberal democracy and capitalist free market economy had become the only capitalist free market economy had become the only remaining ideological alternative for nations in the remaining ideological alternative for nations in the post-Cold War world. Specifically, Francis Fukuyama post-Cold War world. Specifically, Francis Fukuyama argued that the world had reached the 'end of argued that the world had reached the 'end of history' in a Hegelian sense.history' in a Hegelian sense.”, (Source: Wikipedia).”, (Source: Wikipedia).

Modern Theories 2b. Modern Theories 2b. Huntington and the Clash of Huntington and the Clash of

Civilizations 2.Civilizations 2. „„Huntington believed that while the age of Huntington believed that while the age of

ideology had ended, the world had only ideology had ended, the world had only reverted to a normal state of affairs reverted to a normal state of affairs characterized by cultural conflict. In his thesis, characterized by cultural conflict. In his thesis, he argued that the primary axis of conflict in he argued that the primary axis of conflict in the future will be along cultural and religious the future will be along cultural and religious lines.lines.

As an extension, he posits that the concept of As an extension, he posits that the concept of different civilizations, as the highest rank of different civilizations, as the highest rank of cultural identity, will become increasingly cultural identity, will become increasingly useful in analyzing the potential for conflict.useful in analyzing the potential for conflict.”, ”, (loc.cit.).(loc.cit.).

Modern Theories 2c. Modern Theories 2c. Huntington and the Clash of Huntington and the Clash of

Civilizations 3.Civilizations 3. „„Russia, Japan, and India are what Huntington terms 'swing Russia, Japan, and India are what Huntington terms 'swing

civilizations' and may favor either side. Russia, for example, civilizations' and may favor either side. Russia, for example, clashes with the many Muslim ethnic groups on its southern clashes with the many Muslim ethnic groups on its southern border (such as Chechnya) but—according to Huntington—border (such as Chechnya) but—according to Huntington—cooperates with Iran to avoid further Muslim-Orthodox cooperates with Iran to avoid further Muslim-Orthodox violence in Southern Russia, and to help continue the flow of violence in Southern Russia, and to help continue the flow of oil. Huntington argues that a "Sino-Islamic connection" is oil. Huntington argues that a "Sino-Islamic connection" is emerging in which China will cooperate more closely with emerging in which China will cooperate more closely with Iran, Pakistan, and other states to augment its international Iran, Pakistan, and other states to augment its international position.position.””

„„Huntington also argues that civilizational conflicts are Huntington also argues that civilizational conflicts are ‘‘particularly prevalent between Muslims and non-Muslimsparticularly prevalent between Muslims and non-Muslims’’, , identifying the identifying the ‘‘bloody bordersbloody borders’’ between Islamic and non- between Islamic and non-Islamic civilizations. This conflict dates back as far as the Islamic civilizations. This conflict dates back as far as the initial thrust of Islam into Europe, its eventual expulsion in initial thrust of Islam into Europe, its eventual expulsion in the Iberian reconquest, the attacks of the Ottoman Turks on the Iberian reconquest, the attacks of the Ottoman Turks on Eastern Europe and Vienna, and the European imperial Eastern Europe and Vienna, and the European imperial division of the Islamic nations in the 1800s and 1900s.division of the Islamic nations in the 1800s and 1900s.”, ”, (loc.cit)(loc.cit) . .

Modern Theories 2d. Modern Theories 2d. Huntington and the Clash of Huntington and the Clash of

Civilizations 4.Civilizations 4. Huntington also believes that some of the Huntington also believes that some of the

factors contributing to this conflict are that factors contributing to this conflict are that both Christianity (which has influenced both Christianity (which has influenced Western civilization) and Islam are:Western civilization) and Islam are: Missionary religions, seeking conversion of others Missionary religions, seeking conversion of others Universal, "all-or-nothing" religions, in the sense Universal, "all-or-nothing" religions, in the sense

that it is believed by both sides that only their faith that it is believed by both sides that only their faith is the correct one is the correct one

Teleological religions, that is, that their values and Teleological religions, that is, that their values and beliefs represent the goals of existence and purpose beliefs represent the goals of existence and purpose in human existence. in human existence.

Irreligious people who violate the base principles of Irreligious people who violate the base principles of those religions are perceived to be furthering their those religions are perceived to be furthering their own pointless aims, which leads to violent own pointless aims, which leads to violent interactions. interactions.

Modern Theories 2e. Modern Theories 2e. Huntington and the Clash of Huntington and the Clash of

Civilizations 5.Civilizations 5. According to Huntington the deepest and According to Huntington the deepest and

most dangerous conflicts in the Post-Socialist most dangerous conflicts in the Post-Socialist world will not be between different social world will not be between different social classes or between the riches and poors, but classes or between the riches and poors, but between different between different cultural entitiescultural entities..

The actual questions of daily politics could be The actual questions of daily politics could be traced back to cultural differences. The traced back to cultural differences. The importance of Western Civilization will importance of Western Civilization will decrease in the future, and that of the non-decrease in the future, and that of the non-Western Civilizations will increase. The global Western Civilizations will increase. The global politics will be multicultural and mulilateral.politics will be multicultural and mulilateral.

Modern Theories 3a. Niall Modern Theories 3a. Niall Ferguson: the „Six Killer Ferguson: the „Six Killer

Apps” of the West 1.Apps” of the West 1. Niall Ferguson (1964) is a British historian. According to his Niall Ferguson (1964) is a British historian. According to his

theory, six essential factors made Western cultures and societies. theory, six essential factors made Western cultures and societies. He called these six factors „the killer apps of the West”.He called these six factors „the killer apps of the West”. 1. 1. Competition. Competition. Europe was politically fragmented into multiple Europe was politically fragmented into multiple

monarchies and republics, which were in turn internally divided into monarchies and republics, which were in turn internally divided into competing corporate entities, among them the ancestors of modern competing corporate entities, among them the ancestors of modern business corporations.business corporations.

2.2.The Scientific Revolution. The Scientific Revolution. All the major 17th-century breakthroughs All the major 17th-century breakthroughs in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biology happened in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biology happened in Western Europe.in Western Europe.

3.3.The Rule of Law and Representative Government. The Rule of Law and Representative Government. An optimal system An optimal system of social and political order emerged in the English-speaking world, of social and political order emerged in the English-speaking world, based on private-property rights and the representation of property based on private-property rights and the representation of property owners in elected legislatures.owners in elected legislatures.

4.4.Modern Medicine. Modern Medicine. Nearly all the major 19th- and 20th-century Nearly all the major 19th- and 20th-century breakthroughs in health care were made by Western Europeans and breakthroughs in health care were made by Western Europeans and North Americans.North Americans.

5.5.The Consumer Society. The Consumer Society. The Industrial Revolution took place where The Industrial Revolution took place where there was both a supply of productivity-enhancing technologies and a there was both a supply of productivity-enhancing technologies and a demand for more, better, and cheaper goods, beginning with cotton demand for more, better, and cheaper goods, beginning with cotton garments.garments.

6.6.The Work Ethic. The Work Ethic. Westerners were the first people in the world to Westerners were the first people in the world to combine more extensive and intensive labor with higher savings rates, combine more extensive and intensive labor with higher savings rates, permitting sustained capital accumulation.permitting sustained capital accumulation.

Modern Theories 3b. Niall Modern Theories 3b. Niall Ferguson: the „Six Killer Ferguson: the „Six Killer

Apps” of the West 2.Apps” of the West 2. But Ferguson also shared his doubts with the public that the West But Ferguson also shared his doubts with the public that the West

could easily lose these advantages if it became „lazy”, and did not could easily lose these advantages if it became „lazy”, and did not concentrate permanently on maintaining and even enhancing concentrate permanently on maintaining and even enhancing these achievements.these achievements.

„„For hundreds of years, these killer apps were essentially For hundreds of years, these killer apps were essentially monopolized by Europeans and their cousins who settled in North monopolized by Europeans and their cousins who settled in North America and Australasia. They are the best explanation for what America and Australasia. They are the best explanation for what economic historians call "the great divergence": the astonishing economic historians call "the great divergence": the astonishing gap that arose between Western standards of living and those in gap that arose between Western standards of living and those in the rest of the world. In 1500 the average Chinese was richer the rest of the world. In 1500 the average Chinese was richer than the average North American. By the late 1970s the American than the average North American. By the late 1970s the American was more than 20 times richer than the Chinese.was more than 20 times richer than the Chinese.””

„„I am not one of those people filled with angst at the thought of a I am not one of those people filled with angst at the thought of a world in which the average American is no longer vastly richer world in which the average American is no longer vastly richer than the average Chinese. I welcome the escape of hundreds of than the average Chinese. I welcome the escape of hundreds of millions of Asians from poverty, not to mention the improvements millions of Asians from poverty, not to mention the improvements we are seeing in South America and parts of Africa. But there is a we are seeing in South America and parts of Africa. But there is a second, more insidious cause of the "great reconvergence," which second, more insidious cause of the "great reconvergence," which I do deplore—and that is the tendency of Western societies to I do deplore—and that is the tendency of Western societies to delete their own killer apps.delete their own killer apps.””

Modern Theories 4a. Jared Modern Theories 4a. Jared Diamond, „Guns, Germs and Diamond, „Guns, Germs and

Steel” 1.Steel” 1. Jared Mason Diamond (1937) is an American Jared Mason Diamond (1937) is an American

anthropologist, physiologist, biologist, anthropologist, physiologist, biologist, geographer who is best known, for his books: geographer who is best known, for his books: The Third ChimpanzeeThe Third Chimpanzee (1991/2004), (1991/2004), Guns, Guns, Germs, and SteelGerms, and Steel (1997), and (1997), and Collapse: How Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or SucceedSocieties Choose to Fail or Succeed (2005). (2005).

He derived the major differences in economic He derived the major differences in economic and technological development between and technological development between societies from geographic, environmental and societies from geographic, environmental and agricultural peculiarities of the homeland of agricultural peculiarities of the homeland of the peoples.the peoples.

Modern Theories 4b. Jared Modern Theories 4b. Jared Diamond, „Guns, Germs and Diamond, „Guns, Germs and

Steel” 2.Steel” 2. „„The prologue opens with an account of Diamond's The prologue opens with an account of Diamond's

conversation with Yali, a New Guinean politician. The conversation with Yali, a New Guinean politician. The conversation turned to the obvious differences in power conversation turned to the obvious differences in power and technology between Yali's people and the and technology between Yali's people and the Europeans who dominated the land for 200 years, Europeans who dominated the land for 200 years, differences that neither of them considered due to any differences that neither of them considered due to any genetic superiority of Europeans. Yali asked, using the genetic superiority of Europeans. Yali asked, using the local term "cargo" for inventions and manufactured local term "cargo" for inventions and manufactured goods, "Why is it that you white people developed so goods, "Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?" (p. 14)black people had little cargo of our own?" (p. 14).”.”

„„Diamond realized the same question seemed to apply Diamond realized the same question seemed to apply elsewhere: "People of Eurasian origin... dominate the elsewhere: "People of Eurasian origin... dominate the world in wealth and power." Other peoples, after world in wealth and power." Other peoples, after having thrown off colonial domination, still lag in having thrown off colonial domination, still lag in wealth and power. Still others, he says, "have been wealth and power. Still others, he says, "have been decimated, subjugated, and in some cases even decimated, subjugated, and in some cases even exterminated by European colonialists." (p. 15) exterminated by European colonialists." (p. 15) ””

Modern Theories 4c. Jared Modern Theories 4c. Jared Diamond, „Guns, Germs and Diamond, „Guns, Germs and

Steel” 3.Steel” 3. „„The peoples of other continents (Sub-Saharan The peoples of other continents (Sub-Saharan

Africans, NativAfricans, Nativee Americans, Aboriginal Australians Americans, Aboriginal Australians and New Guineans, and the original inhabitants of and New Guineans, and the original inhabitants of tropical Southeast Asia) have been largely conquered, tropical Southeast Asia) have been largely conquered, displaced and in some extreme cases – referring to displaced and in some extreme cases – referring to Native Americans, Aboriginal Australians and South Native Americans, Aboriginal Australians and South Africa's indigenous Khoisan peoples – largely Africa's indigenous Khoisan peoples – largely exterminated by farm-based societies such as exterminated by farm-based societies such as Eurasians and Bantu. Eurasians and Bantu.

He believes this is due to the societies' military and He believes this is due to the societies' military and political advantages, stemming from the early rise of political advantages, stemming from the early rise of agriculture after the last Ice Age. He proposes agriculture after the last Ice Age. He proposes explanations to account for such disproportionate explanations to account for such disproportionate distributions of power and achievements.distributions of power and achievements.”, (Source: ”, (Source: Wikipedia)Wikipedia)