Guns, Germs and Steel

• Why is it that some groups of people developed technology faster than others?
• When the Conquistadors and Aztecs met, why did the men with Hernán Cortés have steel swords and primitive guns, while the natives had slings and atlatls?
• And why, to this day, do the people of  Papua New Guinea still use stone tools to farm with? 

I've been wondering about this for quiet a while now.  I have considered all kinds of reasons, from racial personality to divine intervention.

Turns out Jared Diamond has been asking these questions as well.  In his book "Guns, Germs, and Steel" Mr Diamond explores the idea that a society's technological advancement is dependent on its development of farming, particularity the raising of grains and large, domesticated animals.

For a quick look at his ideas, you can find his documentary on youtube.  This is interesting stuff. If you've ever wondered about this subject, Jared Diamond is a solid place for information.