Chapter 15 "Yali's People" Summary and Analysis

Although Australian societies have often been seen as "backward," as of 40,000 years ago, Native Australian societies showed a "head start" over societies in other parts of the world. They developed some of the earliest known stone tools with ground edges and had some of the earliest water vessels. With this being the case, why did not Native Australians conquer Europe or other parts of the globe instead of the other way around?

Although some individuals have proposed theories using racial differences to explain the outcome, Diamond argues that his theory explains this better. Although Asian societies founded both Australia and New Guinea, these latter societies developed in isolation from Asia. Australians and New Guineans also developed differently from each other in terms of language and genes. In addition, the landmasses of Australia and New Guinea...