Prologue Summary and Analysis

History is very different for groups and societies in different parts of the world. Societies developed agriculture and metal tools at different times. As a result, wealth and power were distributed unevenly across the globe. Diamond seeks to explain why there were different rates of human development on different continents.

Diamond discusses some objections that he has to some traditional views. For example, some individuals argue that if it can be explained why one group dominates another, it could be seen as justifying the domination. It has also been argued that attempting to answer this question involves a Eurocentric focus as Western Europe was prominent in the development of weapons and conquered many other areas of the globe. Finally, examining the "rise of civilization" might convey that civilization is good and that groups such as hunters and gatherers were miserable and...