Gilgamesh -- what do you think?

Please post brief comments, questions, etc. here as soon as you can (ideally Tuesday night)

Jared Diamond continued

In class, we came up with the following notes/questions (pasted below)

Please address any of these questions and/or the larger question of whether agriculture was a mistake.

Please read other people's postings before you jump in, so you can see who you agree with and who you disagree with.

* * * NOTES FROM CLASS * * *

what do we mean by “better off”?

What makes a civilization successful?


Lots of jobs? Economy? Military might?
Sustainability/Stability?
Justice? Is the death penalty okay/just?
Everybody has a role to contribute?
People’s basic needs are met (food, shelter)
Cultural achievements
Technology – how do you use it?
Progress – technological, economic, agricultural (quantity v quality)