文明如何演进——以《枪炮、钢铁和病菌》为例

How Civilization Evolves——In the Case of Guns,Steel and Germs

发展至今的文明缘何呈现出现在的状态,是我们的发问。《枪炮、钢铁和病菌》一书以平常的发问开头,运用生物学、语言学等多学科理论,结合详实的历史研究材料,以独到的视角为我们呈现了人类社会不同命运的奥妙。粮食生产增加及与之相伴随的病菌、文字的出现、技术的发明和传播及政治组织的诞生共同形成了区域社会发展的助推器。不同社会的不同命运便是由这几种要素的不同构造形成的,或是受到了地理及生态的阻隔,或是由于政治体制的不同。这些都最终导致了人类社会的不同命运。

We cannot help asking why civilization is in such a situation as it has evolved so long.Guns,Steel and Germs,putting a question at its very beginning,uses biology,linguistics and other discipline theory,combines with detailed historical research materials,and in a unique perspective,presents the mystery of human society.Increase of the food production and bacteria,appearance of letters and characters,the birth and spread of technology and establishment of political organizations have boosted social development.Different fates of human societies have been caused by societies constituted of different elements,or by the geographical and ecological barriers,or by different political systems.