Is the spatial distribution of mankind's most basic economic traits determined by climate and soil alone?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several authors, most prominently Jared Diamond (1997, Guns, Germs and Steel), have investigated biogeographic determinants of human history and civilization. The timing of the transition to an agricultural lifestyle, associated with steep population growth and consequent societal change, has been suggested to be affected by the availability of suitable organisms for domestication. These factors were shown to quantitatively explain some of the current global inequalities of economy and political power. Here, we advance this approach one step further by looking at climate and soil as sole determining factors.

Methodology/principal findings

As a simplistic 'null model', we assume that only climate and soil conditions affect the suitability of four basic landuse type

SUBMITTER: Beck J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2864741 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature