I am vaguely aware of the debate centering around Guns, Germs, and Steel, as it is referenced so often in discussions on this forum. Could anyone help direct me toward the other relevant literature in this debate? I'm sure there are many works criticizing Diamond's work in particular and/or the concept of geographic determinism in itself. I know there are also many other deterministic theories for explaining the rise and fall of civilizations. I remember hearing of one theory which centers around Eurasia's horizontal orientation being a major reason for its greater wealth than North and South America in pre-modern times. I'm sure there's lots of neat stuff like this out there that I could discuss for this short undergrad essay. Thanks!
hi! you might try skimming this section of the FAQ; there are a few external references mentioned/linked here & there
You might find "The Human Web" by McNeill and McNeill interesting. There's an element of geographic determinism in it, in as much as they consider a growth of networks (trade, communication, migrations, etc.) a key factor. I'm not sure if I'd call it a geographic determinism outright. If it is, than it is mostly through geography making communications more or less difficult. In any case, its scope and topic are close to Diamonds' but I consider it a much better work. So for a paper on a debate, a less extreme determinism, and frankly a much better work, might be useful on a pro side.
Ecological Imperialism (1986) by Alfred Crosby would be my first suggestion. It's a much better book that avoids environmental determinism and is occasionally quite funny if you understand the author's humor and references.