Guns Germs and Steel, Diamond.
From wikipedia synopsis:
"Diamond argues that Eurasian civilization is not so much a product of ingenuity, but of opportunity and necessity. That is, civilization is not created out of superior intelligence, but is the result of a chain of developments, each made possible by certain preconditions."
For example the mediterranean region had 5(6?) domesticated animals and had wheat,barley oats and spelt grains. Asia had rice.
The North Americans in contrast, had no domesticated animals and didn't get maize until shortly before the Europeans arrived.
"Diamond argues that Eurasian civilization is not so much a product of ingenuity, but of opportunity and necessity. That is, civilization is not created out of superior intelligence, but is the result of a chain of developments, each made possible by certain preconditions."
For example the mediterranean region had 5(6?) domesticated animals and had wheat,barley oats and spelt grains. Asia had rice.
The North Americans in contrast, had no domesticated animals and didn't get maize until shortly before the Europeans arrived.