Geography’s Role in Evolution

Geography’s Role in Evolution

When the vast assortment of different people separated by thousands of miles blended with each other, certain continents conquered weaker ones; we as humans question why Earth evolved to be that way. Jared Diamond, in his speech “Why Did Human History Unfold Differently on Different Continents for the Last 13,000 Years?” explains the reason that different people on different continents evolved faster or slower is due to geography. Diamond is a credible American scientist and author, and he presented this speech to “members of Edge Educational Foundation, an interdisciplinary association of scholars and technologists” (Diamond 51). In his speech, Diamond proposes the evolutionary factors, including animals and germs, geography, population, and tools and technology, which may have generated such differences between the continents throughout history (Diamond 51). In attempt to answer the vast question, “Why did history take such different evolutionary courses for people of different continents?” Diamond compares the different continents and what aspects of each continent had for advantages or disadvantages (Diamond 51). Diamond uses his own credibility, and evidence from research done by him and other historians. Diamond’s writing strategies in his text, including his organization, style and tone, and repetition, aid his audience in emphasizing his claims and evidence in a way that is clear and precise. In my analysis of Diamond’s text I will examine the claims, evidence, and strategies in his writing, and show how each concept is beneficial to his argument.

In order to avoid any of the common “racial overtones” that apparently come with the study of human evolution, Diamond reveals that there are no actual recorded differences in average IQ among the world’s population. Diamond’s claim is that the reason for evolutionary differences between groups of people around the world is geography, not biology. Diamond’s purpose for this claim is that he wants to provide the moral and true answer. He then exposes that the reason why people could accept racist theories, is that there are no alternative explanations (52). Diamond does not support his claim with convincing evidence, however, throughout the article, he provides alternative explanations to the mystery; “why did history take such different evolutionary courses for peoples of different continents?” The writing strategies that Diamond uses in this paragraph include refuting opposing views and organization. Diamond presents the opposing view of alternative racist theories in order to clarify his main argument; differences between groups of people around the world comes from differences in geography, not biology. Diamond placed this paragraph at the beginning of his speech to show that it is very important for the audience to get rid of any preconception they had before