Blog post 23
1)According to Jared Diamond, what allowed Europeans to develop the power necessary to conquer (take over) large portions of the world?
Geography-having the most productive crops and animals allowed Europeans to develop guns, germs, and steel, and ultimately, to conquer the world.
2)Why were the Europeans who settled the South African cape(tip) so successful? Describe two reasons.
The temperature and the climate in the South African cape is nearly the same as what the Europeans had at home. Because the Cape and Europe have a similar latitude (distance from the equator), they can grow the same types of crops and raise the same types of livestock in Africa as they did back home in Europe.
3)How did disease allow the Europeans to conquer the native populations in the Americas-and in the African-cape?
Europeans introduced germs that these populations had never before been exposed to, particularly smallpox. Because Europeans had been exposed to the disease over the course of centuries, their bodies had built up a natural resistance (antibodies) to these diseases. When the people of the Americas and the South African cape came into contact with these germs, they were killed in massive numbers, making settlement of these lands much easier for the Europeans.
4)The Europeans who settled the tropical areas of the African continent introduced killer germs to the native populations. However, Europeans also suffered from the effects of germs native to Africa. Describe how native African germs worked against the European settlers.
The Europeans were experiencing a reversal of the pattern they were used to. Rather than introducing germs to the people they hoped to conquer, they were being infected by the germs that were indigenous to Africa and losing their livestock and their own lives as a result.
5)How did the native Africans protect themselves from the germs that caused diseases such as Smallpox and Malaria? Give specific examples cited in the film.
The native Africans had developed immunity to Smallpox through repeated exposure over thousands of years and vaccinations they had developed that could provide immunity for life. In addition, the Africans also knew how to avoid diseases like Malaria by preventing infection. This was done by choosing to live in high, dry areas where the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the disease do not typically live. Because the Africans lived in small communities spread out over relatively large areas, they could minimize the transmission of diseases such as Malaria when outbreaks occurred. Because European settlers did not understand the causes of Malaria, they concentrated their settlements near rivers and water sources where they faced the greatest exposure to Malaria. Because they all lived in close proximity, epidemics were frequent and deadly to the settlers.
6)How has the colonization (European take over) of Africa created countries filled with disease? Give specific examples from the film.
Because European colonists in the late 1800’s forced the native Africans out of their small villages and into cities and large, crowded communities to mine and ferry the continent’s natural resources, they took the successful economic and social systems away from these people. By putting so many people together in areas where diseases like Malaria are easily spread, the native populations have lost the immunity they once had to these diseases. This is caused, in part, by the strains of the disease mutating, causing drugs to be less effective. As a result, there are high numbers of people infected with and dying from diseases like Malaria. In addition, new diseases, such as HIV/AIDS are now also spread more easily because of so many people living in densely populated areas.
7) A Wha is the number one public health problem in Zambia? B) Who are the people mainly affected by this?
Malaria. It is the number one killer of African children under the age of 5.
8)How has disease made poverty (poorness) worse in many African countries such as Zambia?
It has decreased life expectancy dramatically. The average lifespan in Zambia is only 35 years. Because the disease affects so many children so frequently, many mothers who would normally be working and contributing to the society are instead sitting in hospitals nursing sick children.
9)According to data from the film, how has Malaria effected the overall growth in Africa over the last 50 years?
Malaria has caused 1% NEGATIVE growth in Africa EACH YEAR for the past 50 years. This has caused them to become poverty stricken.
10)Describe how other tropical countries such as Malaysia and Singapore have developed rich economies despite having many of the same geographical and health problems faced by African nations.
By understanding their environment and realizing the burdens that their geography and certain germs could cause, these governments planned and executed measures to eliminate diseases like Malaria. As a result, they were able to develop rich economies and capitalize on the positive aspects of their geography.
