Africa

This continent lies south of Eurasia. Humans have lived in Africa for longer than anywhere else in the world. Development was inhibited by its north-south axis, the lack of big animals that could be domesticated, and the relative lack of domesticated wild plants.

Alphabet

The writing strategy employed by most peoples today. It ideally provides a unique symbol or letter for each basic sound within a language.

The Americas

Diamond uses this term to refer to the combined continent of North and South America. He suggests that this continent had disadvantages relative to Eurasia because of the relative lack of plants and animals that could be domesticated, as well as a north-south axis of orientation, which inhibited the spread of technology and innovations.

Atahuallpa

An Inca emperor in the 1500's, he was the monarch of the largest and most advanced state in the Americas at this time...