rigney@uokvax.UUCP (11/03/83)
#R:allegra:-192300:uokvax:5000008:000:529 uokvax!rigney Nov 1 10:28:00 1983 No, you're missing the Really Big advantage Europe had. Rain. The decentralized nature of an agriculture fed by rain rather than massive irrigation projects such as in India and China had a huge effect on the political and therefore technological development of Europe. It may seem like a very little thing, but I suggest reading Marvin Harris' KINGS AND CANNIBALS and COWS, PIGS, WARS, AND WITCHES for the reasons why it was so important. I don't remember which book it was in, but the other is well worth reading too.