Today we will finish our discussion of the state of the world today. Then we will turn to the past and ask a new question. Why are some societies rich and others poor, some conquerors and others conquered? We will start class with a scored discussion of the Kupchan reading assigned last class and then move onto the question above.
Question of the Day
Why did Europe end up being the richest and most dominant region on earth and will the West's ideas and political institutions continue to dominate in the future?
Focus Questions
What is Kupchan's thesis in regard to the future role of Western ideas and institutions?
What effects did the agricultural revolution have on early humans?
What is Yali's question, what does it mean, and why is it important?
Please bring your Cornell notes of Kupchan's "Acknowledgments" section to class.
We will begin class with a discussion of Reading #1 (Kupchan's "Acknowledgments").
Then we will watch a video excerpt from Guns, Germs, and Steel and discuss the ideas it presents. You will need to take notes during the video.
Read Chapter 4 ("Farmer Power") of Guns, Germs, and Steel and take notes. You can access the reading on Blackboard ("Reading #2").
Guns, Germs and Steel Videos
Episode 1 of 3: Out of Eden
Episode 2 of 3: Conquest
Episode 3 of 3: Into the Tropics