Graphical Comparison of Eastern vs. Western Hemisphere Civilization
by Lee Corbin
based upon data provided on pp 362-363
in Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Fertile Cresent Meso-America
Writing 3200 BC 600 BC
States 3700 BC 300 BC
Metal tools 4000 BC 1000 +AD (Andes)
Chiefdoms 5500 BC 1500 BC
Villages 9000 BC 1500 BC
Pottery 7000 BC 1500 BC
Animal dom. 8000 BC 500 BC
Plant dom. 8500 BC 3000 BC
B.C. (1000's): 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 +1
Writing---------------------------------------------E---------------W----------
States-------------------------------------------E-------------------W---------
Metals-----------------------------------------E-----------------------------W-
Chiefdoms-----------------------------E-----------------------W----------------
Pottery----------------------E--------------------------------W----------------
Animals----------------E--------------------------------------------W----------
Plants--------------E--------------------------------W-------------------------
Villages---------E--------------------------------------------W----------------
B.C. (1000's): 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 +1
I claim that the West's development was quicker, no matter how you
view the data. For example, were you to graph them in order of Western
---as opposed to Eastern---discovery, the Western development is still
more tightly clustered:
Metals-----------------------------------------E-----------------------------W-
States-------------------------------------------E-------------------W---------
Writing---------------------------------------------E---------------W----------
Animals----------------E--------------------------------------------W----------
Chiefdoms-----------------------------E-----------------------W----------------
Pottery----------------------E--------------------------------W----------------
Villages---------E--------------------------------------------W----------------
Plants--------------E--------------------------------W-------------------------
B.C. (1000's): 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 +1
For what reason would the Western development proceed faster than the Eastern??