Lesson 4 SUMMER READING
August 20th, 2009
SUMMER READING FOR AP WORLD HISTORY
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
Created by Mrs. Samantha Herrington
Answer these questions to guide your reading: To be successful in AP World History, you must begin to understand that reading is not simply looking at words on a page. It is a process of reviewing those words, and analyzing their greater meaning. Often, this requires the material to be read multiple times in order for the larger meaning in the text to ‘click’. There is no special technique or shortcut in this process. Only through reading and analysis of information on a repeated basis can a person hope to develop this skill. Eventually, our goal will be the ability to read a series of documents, process their meaning, and organize a coherent outline of ideas for an essay.
There may be opinions expressed in the book you find to be true or you may find the opinions expressed to be untrue. The purpose of education is to grow and learn and to come up against thoughts we can believe and agree and to also listen to and evaluate opinions we do not agree with.
You should endeavor in your personal beliefs to align yourself closely with your parents and your own religious convictions. World History provides us with the opportunity to explore other beliefs or viewpoints…but that doesn’t mean we should abandon our own.
These questions are due the first day you come to my class the last day this will be accepted is September 28th. We will take a test over the general information and summer reading the following week
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS TO BEGIN THIS ASSIGNMENT.
If you read and answer the questions as well as study the “Knowledge you must have” information…You will be off and running for the 2009-2010 school year!
Prologue
1. Summarize Yali’s question. This requires mentioning race, intelligence, and development of
technology.
2. Summarize the three main objections to answering Yali’s question.
3. What is meant by a “eurocentric” approach to history?
4. Summarize Diamond’s response to the idea that Europeans may perhaps be more innately
intelligent that New Guineans. Use his major points to support your summary.
5. Give an example of “passive entertainment”. Explain why we seem to have a better
opportunity to experience this type of entertainment in America and its possible effect on our
ability to think critically.
6. Explain the theory of how cold European weather may have affected mental development of
Europeans.
7. Explain how the theory of irrigation development may have affected the mental development
of river civilizations.
8. Summarize Diamond’s thesis. This requires you to first understand Yali’s question, and
outline how Diamond proposes to answer this question.
Up To The Starting Line
9. What is significant about 13,000 years ago or 11,000 B.C.?
10. What stage in human development does Diamond characterize as the Great Leap Forward?
11. What are the major human achievements that characterize this Great Leap Forward?
12. What technological advancement (and give the date) was necessary for the colonization of
New Guinea and Australia.
13. What theory does Diamond propose for the disappearance of mega-fauna in Australia/New
Guinea?
14. What mega-fauna existed in the North America prior to 11,000 B.C. (for more information
on this topic, watch What Killed the Mega Beasts? on the Discovery Channel.
A Natural Experiment of History
15. What about the natural environment of the Chatham Islands caused the Moriori people to
develop so differently from their Maori conquerors of the same ancestral heritage?
16. What are the three staple domesticated animals of the Polynesians?
17. What are the main causes of low human population density in many Polynesian islands?
18. What man-made constructions allowed for increased human population density in islands
such as Hawaii?
Collision at Cajamarca
19. If you had witnessed Cajamarca prior to the overthrow of Atahuallpa, explain why you may
not have believed Pizarro’s overthrow of the Incas was possible.
20. Explain the role of technology in the overthrow of the Inca.
21. Explain the role of religion in the overthrow of the Inca.
22. Explain the role of disease in the overthrow of the Inca.
23. Explain the role of literacy and government organization in the overthrow of the Inca.