I have a question on my guns, germs, and steel homework.?

Question

1) Chapter 4...farmer power, Explain how those who lived a settled existence experienced greater political, economic, and social change than those who remained nomadic?

2) Chapter 4...farmer power, How did the availability of domestic animals explain why empires, literacy, and steel weapons developed earliest in eurasia?

Thanks so much for your help.

Answer 1

are you serious?

Answer 2

1.  I can't remember what the book specifically had to say about this.  Seems to me a nomadic society inherently can't develop highly structured pol, econ and soc systems so clearly settled people would experience more change as their systems develop.

2.  Animals in Eurasia were better suited to aiding farmers.  Oxen, horses, cows instead of giraffe, llamas, tigers, lions and so forth.  The development of more efficient agriculture allows a significant portion of the population to focus on creating rather than worrying about where there next meal is coming from.

Answer 3

1)Farmers can supply food for several people.  So craftsmen develop, with special skills nomads can't take the time to learn.  They also develop governments that have powers not found in nomadic tribes, usually.  So taxes are created, government offices and edifices, temples, religous leadership, fortifications, armies, etc.

2) Without domestic animals for plowing, food and transport, other areas were under a disadvantage.

Answer 4

1.It was much easier for them to remain in a village, because they won't have starvation and other issues of traveling.

2.The animals were food for them.