Environmental differences and the rise of civilization

Jared Diamond's book 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' explores the reasons behind the divergent paths of development on different continents. He argues that environmental differences, particularly in terms of access to nutritious native crops and domesticable animals, played a crucial role in determining the pace and trajectory of civilization. Specifically, the Fertile Crescent in Western Eurasia possessed a superior array of useful plants and animals, enabling the development of settled agriculture, population growth, and the rise of stratified societies with specialized craft and warrior classes. This environmental advantage eventually translated into eurasians having a head start in the development of guns, germs, and steel compared to other societies.