Blog 21

Guns, Germs, and Steel –Episode 3 

Directions: Before viewing the film, read each question below so you know what information and ideas you should be looking for as you watch Episode 3. Record your answers to each question by providing as many facts, details, and examples as possible to answer each question. Be prepared to discuss your answers with the class. 

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

3)How did disease allow the Europeans to conquer the native populations in the Americasand in the Africancape?

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

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.

6)How has the colonization (European take over) of Africa created countries filled with disease? Give specific examples from the film.

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. 

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

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.