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Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies Study Guide

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by Jared Diamond
About 53 pages (15,884 words)
Guns, Germs, and Steel Summary

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Chapter 4 "Farmer Power" Summary and Analysis

Societies on different continents developed food production at different times. Diamond argues that these differences in the timing of food production were related to the advantages of guns, germs, and steel. First, the availability of more consumable calories led to more people because the society was able to feed more individuals. Similarly, the presence of domesticated animals allowed for a greater population because the livestock furnished meat, milk, fertilizer for other plants, and power by pulling plows that cultivated more plant food.

Indirectly, the sedentary life available through food production/agriculture allowed for shorter birth intervals and the storage of food surpluses. Stored food, in turn, allowed for the feeding of.....

This is a free excerpt of 115 words. This section contains 228 words. This study guide contains 15,884 words (approx. 53 pages at 300 words per page).

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