A New Theory on the Broadest Patterns of History ~ Ideen Ali Riahi

Dec 2, 2024

Explore why Eurasia became the breeding ground for the world’s largest empires and technological breakthroughs. Delve into the intriguing hypothesis that Ice Age ancestors may have shaped these lands for agriculture and societal development. The discussion challenges genetic explanations for Eurasian dominance and critiques simplistic views like environmental determinism. Highlighting the resilience of humanity, the podcast invites listeners to rethink historical patterns and our evolving relationship with the environment.

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INSIGHT

Eurasia, Not Just Europe

Eurasia has been the dominant force in technological and military advancements throughout history, not just Europe.
This "Eurasian advantage" has roots deeper than European colonialism, going back to the origins of agriculture.

INSIGHT

Diamond's Argument

Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel" argues environmental differences, not genetic ones, explain Eurasian dominance.
He emphasizes domesticable animals' impact on agriculture, disease, and population density.

INSIGHT

Geography and Innovation

Diamond suggests Eurasia's size and east-west axis facilitated idea exchange, contributing to its advantage.
Riahi adds that variations within Eurasia are significant, focusing on the southern band's unique conditions.

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Persians. Romans. Chinese. Guptas. Abbasids. Mongols. British.

The list of the world’s largest empires is a list of different peoples of Eurasia. With the sole exception of ancient Egypt, the Eurasian landmass has been the breeding ground for the largest empire of each moment in history.

Why has Eurasia been so prone to large empires? Similarly, why did so many technological breakthroughs — from writing to gunpowder — occur in Eurasia? And how did these broader patterns of Eurasian history enable the dark chapters of European colonialism?

These questions constitute some of the “broadest patterns of history”, to quote Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel. Indeed, these are not only the broad contours of the last few millennia: searching for answers, we need to dig deep into the origins of agriculture and beyond.

My guest today, ⁠Ideen Ali Riahi⁠, has been digging very deep indeed.

Building on Diamond’s original project, Riahi has traced the deepest roots behind Eurasia’s outsized power in human history. And if he is correct, these roots extend to periods way before the dawn of agriculture.

In this episode, we discuss topics such as:

The “Why Eurasia?” questions: What does it mean? What answers do we have? And is this a meaningful question to start with?

Environmental determinism vs environmental realism

Did the activities of our Ice Age ancestors prepare Eurasian lands for farms, cows, and cavalries?

Riahi’s case against genetic explanations of Eurasian dominance and Europe’s rise

As always, we finish with my guest’s reflections on humanity.

You can find links ⁠to academic articles discussed in this episode here.⁠

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MENTIONS

Scholars

Jared Diamond (author of Guns, Germs, and Steel)

Daron Acemoglu ( co-author of Why Nations Fail, guest in episode #26)

Alfred Crosby (author of Ecological Imperialism)

Vernon L Smith

Melinda Zeder & Bruce Smith

Richard Dawkins (author of Selfish Gene)

Oded Galor (author of Journey of Humanity, guest in episodes #12 and #13)

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