Guns Germs And Steel Episode 3 Answers

Name:_______________________________________________ Viewing Guide: Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 3

Date:______________

Directions: Before viewing the film, read each question below so you know what information and ideas you should be looking for as you watch Episode 3. Record your answers to each question by providing as many facts, details, and examples as possible to answer each question. Be prepared to discuss your answers with the class. You will use some of the information collected to create a class project. 1. According to Jared Diamond, what is the one factor that allowed Europeans to develop the forces necessary to conquer vast portions of the world? Answer: Geography-having the most productive crops and animals allowed Europeans
How did the native Africans protected themselves from the germs that caused diseases such as Smallpox and Malaria? Give specific examples cited in the film. Answer: The native Africans had developed immunity to Smallpox through repeated exposure over thousands of years and vaccinations they had developed that could provide immunity for life. In addition, the Africans also knew how to avoid diseases like Malaria by preventing infection. This was done by choosing to live in high, dry areas where the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the disease do not typically live. Because the Africans lived in small communities spread out over relatively large areas, they could minimize the transmission of diseases such as Malaria when outbreaks occurred. Because European settlers did not understand the causes of Malaria, they concentrated their settlements near rivers and water sources where they faced the greatest exposure to Malaria. Because they all lived in close proximity, epidemics were frequent and deadly to the settlers. 6. How has the colonization of Africa created countries riddled with disease? Give specific examples from the film. Answer: Because European colonists in the late 1800’s forced the native Africans out of their small villages and into cities and large, crowded communities to mine and ferry the continent’s natural resources, they took the successful economic and social systems away from these people. By putting so many people together in areas where diseases
Describe how other tropical countries such as Malaysia and Singapore have developed rich economies despite having many of the same geographical and health problems faced by African nations. Answer: By understanding their environment and realizing the burdens that their geography and certain germs could cause, these governments planned and executed measures to eliminate diseases like Malaria. As a result, they were able to develop rich economies and capitalize on the positive aspects of their geography. 11. Now that you have read “The Story of Smallpox and Other Eurasian Germs”, describe what you have learned about Smallpox including the causes, symptoms, means for spreading the disease, and how immunity to the disease can be developed. Answer: Smallpox is a viral infection that usually enters the body through the nose or throat. From here the virus travels to the lungs, where it multiplies and spreads to the lymphatic system. Within a few days, large blisters begin to appear all over the victim’s skin. Starting with the hands and the face, and then spreading to cover the rest of the body, each blister is packed full of smallpox DNA. If punctured, these blisters become highly infectious, projecting fresh smallpox particles into the air and onto surrounding surfaces – like someone else’s skin! The total incubation period lasts around 12 days, by which point the patient will either die or survive – but throughout that period, he may have passed the disease to an enormous