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“Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes …”

“Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes …”. The Benefits of an East/West Orientation. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes. From Guns, Germs and Steel, p 177. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes. Diffusion of: Plants and Animals: Agricultural techniques Other Technologies . Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes.

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“Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes …”

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  1. “Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes …” The Benefits of an East/West Orientation

  2. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes From Guns, Germs and Steel, p 177

  3. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Diffusion of: • Plants and Animals: • Agricultural techniques • Other Technologies

  4. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Examine Three Regions: • Eurasia (Diffusion from Fertile Crescent) • Africa • The Americas • First, Eurasia …

  5. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes From Guns, Germs and Steel, p 177

  6. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Reasons for Rapid Diffusion in Eurasia: • Similar growing conditions • Little preemptive domestication • East/West Axis Predominant in Eurasia

  7. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Why was East/West Axis Important: • Locations distributed East to West share the same latitude, generally leading to other similarities: • Same day length • Seasonal variations • Rainfall & temperatures • Similar diseases • Types of vegetation

  8. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Plants Programmed to Latitudinal Factors Day length | Seed germination Seasons | Seedling growth Climate | Flowering & baring fruit • Same for Animals • Bottom Line: East/West Axis Allowed Easier Diffusion in Eurasia

  9. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Africa and Americas had Limited Diffusion due to North-South Orientation • Except for a few animals, the FC package did not arrive in S. Africa until Europeans arrived in 1652 • Except for Mexican corn, little diffusion occurred between: US – Mexico – Andes • Note: Evidence of little preemptive diffusion in Africa and Americas

  10. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Caveat: • Latitude is not the only factor • Local topography and ecology play a role • North America • FC -> India • FC -> China • FC -> Africa

  11. Spacious Skies & Tilted Axes • Extension: • The principle of East/West diffusion applies to agriculture and much more • Wheel (ox carts) • Writing (royal propaganda, food inventories & bureaucratic record keeping) • While not directly related to ag diffusion, technological transfers followed the spread of food production.

  12. Assigned Readings Course ReaderG G S For Wednesday: Library Tour ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Friday: MID-TERM EXAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Next Monday: Course (at least to p. 78) ReaderG G S Medievil Section pp60-93 By Walburger

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