Opinions on Geographic Determinism and Jared Diamond?

by NigerianChild

What are your opinions on the theory of geographic determinism and Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel". Agree or disagree and why?

CommodoreCoCo

While there is still room for discussion, Diamond and his books have received ample coverage by myself and other contributors in the linked FAQ. You may be interested in this recent answer I gave regarding geographical determinism. In short, physical geography effects societies in numerous ways, but Diamond uses it to explain events that never happened. His version of the conquest of the Americas is so inaccurate that debating the legitimacy of the mechanisms he proposes for it is pointless.