I'm currently reading "Guns, Germs, and Steel," by Jared Diamond.
It examines the historical factors that lead to a civilization's dominance over another; it attempts to provide an answer to the question of European dominance.
Diamond's central thesis is that over the long run, improved food production is the determining factor in cultural dominance. Improved food production lets a society accrue food surpluses, which can be used to employ specialists who don't need to generate their own food.
These can be professional soldiers who conquer land or elites who develop technologies. This leads to germs which develop from the increased population densities made possible with better food production. Expose those germs to indigenous peoples and...
I'll spare you further details, but suffice it to say that this book is pretty interesting.I would just like to say that your avatar is fantastic.
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