I was wondering the other day. Is it some kind of coincidence that Europe was superior compare to the Americas at the time when the explorers came to Americas? America and Europe was about the same age and everything, how did the Europeans discover compass, ships, amour, guns(?), and all kind of technology. While the Americans (aztecs, Incas) civilization are the same age, but are so primitive? No ships, no guns, no amour. Just clubs, and spears.

Why? It is a coincidence? Why is it that the Europeans became the explorer and conqueror while the Aztecs and Incas, are so primitive and inexperienced.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::confused:

You ask a good question.

Here is a synopsis of one author's opinion. The book he wrote is a good read. It is a complex issue so others may have other opinions. See Guns, Germs, and Steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks

OH Watch Guns Germs and Steel. It explains how way way back when we were hunters and gatherers we had started in the middle east where there was a "green belt" of great land. They became nomadic until they were too large move, so they made tiny houses. Then they began to expand and found they could cultivate the land. Then (im going to jump a bit here) there was a cropping of tons of these little villages all over this one belt. And from here it all expanded, they had all the resources, and a lot of people, and A lot of territory to claim. The only reason was resources, and how they used them, the americas must have lacked in certain ones that stopped them from advancing as fast.

The Incans and Mayans were extremely civilized societies when the European conquered them. They were not more primitive, they simply had a different way of life.

It seems to me an obvious answer--or at least part of the answer--is that those in the Americas were relatively isolated. Europe benefited greatly from its interactions with the Middle East, which in turn benefited from its interactions with Asia. Technology, in particular, flourishes when there is a lively exhange of ideas. The Mayan and Incan cultures were unable to benefit from this the way that Europeans and others did.

Advancement in weaponry makes a people better at murder. Ships brought Europeans to the New World when they accidentally ran into it while looking for a better trade route. Watch the movie "The Other Conquest" and learn about the wonderful advancements Europeans brought to the "Godless pagans."

So, why didn't the Aztecs and the Incas work together the way Europe worked together with other civilization? Why didn't the Americas wanted to explore but that the Europeans did? I don't think it's just because there wasn't enough land, I think that the Europeans had a blood for explorations.

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Originally Posted by survivorboi

So, why didn't the Aztecs and the Incas work together the way Europe worked together with other civilization? Why didn't the Americas wanted to explore but that the Europeans did? I don't think it's just because there wasn't enough land, I think that the Europeans had a blood for explorations.

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The Aztecs and Incans were completely different societies. That's like asking why the Germans and English didn't work together; same areas, different culture and society. They would have known about each other and traded and had some relations, just like Europe, but you have to remember that Europe was not so connected with each other as they are today. We jut get that picture because of the very general overview of history we get in school.

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Originally Posted by xxariesxx

The Aztecs and Incans were completely different societies. That's like asking why the Germans and English didn't work together; same areas, different culture and society. They would have known about each other and traded and had some relations, just like Europe, but you have to remember that Europe was not so connected with each other as they are today. We jut get that picture because of the very general overview of history we get in school.

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One of the issues that Diamond points out is that, while the Europeans may not have "worked together", communication (and therefore the exchange of ideas) did occur and was much easier to accomplish in Europe than between the various American "empires" (those that existed at the same time of course) simply due to the geography of the American continents. Again, it is probably not wise to say this or that factor caused the differences, but a blending of many different factors. Probably getting complete agreement on the relative weight of the factors is impossible.