Native Americans had only stone and wooden weapons and no animals that could be ridden. Those military advantages repeatedly enabled troops of a few dozen mounted Spaniards to defeat Indian armies numbering in the thousands.

Quote by Jared Diamond

Topics: Jared Diamond Quotes

Eurasia ended up with the most domesticated animal species in part because it's the world's...

Eurasia ended up with the most domesticated animal species in part because it's the world's...

Why did human development proceed at such different rates on different continents for the last...

Why did human development proceed at such different rates on different continents for the last...

Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation.

Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation.

Twenty years ago, you might have been pessimistic and said there's no hope. But these...

Twenty years ago, you might have been pessimistic and said there's no hope. But these...

Take air quality in the United States today: It's about 30 percent better than it...

Take air quality in the United States today: It's about 30 percent better than it...

Although native Africans domesticated some plants in the Sahel and in Ethiopia and in tropical...

Although native Africans domesticated some plants in the Sahel and in Ethiopia and in tropical...

Federal elections happen every two years in this country. Presidential elections every four years. And...

Federal elections happen every two years in this country. Presidential elections every four years. And...

Measles and TB evolved from diseases of our cattle, influenza from a disease of pigs,...

Measles and TB evolved from diseases of our cattle, influenza from a disease of pigs,...

Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to...

Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to...

The main thing that gives me hope is the media. We have radio, TV, magazines,...

The main thing that gives me hope is the media. We have radio, TV, magazines,...

I personally am not conscious of my accent.

I personally am not conscious of my accent.

Technology causes problems as well as solves problems. Nobody has figured out a way to...

Technology causes problems as well as solves problems. Nobody has figured out a way to...

Introspection and preserved writings give us far more insight into the ways of past humans...

Introspection and preserved writings give us far more insight into the ways of past humans...

All human societies go through fads in which they temporarily either adopt practices of little...

All human societies go through fads in which they temporarily either adopt practices of little...

The broadest pattern of history - namely, the differences between human societies on different continents...

The broadest pattern of history - namely, the differences between human societies on different continents...

Thousands of years ago, humans domesticated every possible large wild mammal species fulfilling all those...

Thousands of years ago, humans domesticated every possible large wild mammal species fulfilling all those...

Knowledge is the true organ of sight not the eyes

Knowledge is the true organ of sight not the eyes

Science is often misrepresented as the body of knowledge acquired by performing replicated controlled experiments...

Science is often misrepresented as the body of knowledge acquired by performing replicated controlled experiments...

Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought...

Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought...

Knowledge is the treasure, but judgment is the treasurer of the one who is wise.

Knowledge is the treasure, but judgment is the treasurer of the one who is wise.