Moo! The Great Plains are Broken

[LuckyAC]

The only problem is that while it's reasonable that geography would determine where early civilization developed, I don't see how that explains why European civilization is dominant, since civilization didn't develop in Europe.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

The environment in Europe is a lot less hostile than where "Western" civilisation started out (Africa and Middle East).

There's a lot more rain and water is the most important resource for any life. Africa has lots of barb animals that kill your scouts too!

Remoteness of other civilisation prevented too much cultural influence from affecting Europe. (China, India, Americas, Australasia).

 

[generalawal]

The only problem is that while it's reasonable that geography would determine where early civilization developed, I don't see how that explains why European civilization is dominant, since civilization didn't develop in Europe.

Diamond has an explanation of this as well. I don't recall what he says about why the Fertile Crescent civilizations eventually fell behind, but I do remember that in China's case, their cohesiveness was their downfall (the central gov't prevented certain important factors to run their course). Europe, of course, hasn't ever been unified, and what unification has happened has been short-lived.

And in other places where civilization developed (Americas, Africa), it developed later and at a slower rate due to the domesticatible plants/animals and continental axis combination.

In short, Europe mostly got lucky.

 

[Heeringas]

Great plains are "easier" maps than ones with water... In GreatP map you might have situation where you start from the edge and you only need to worry about one front...
And I ones started as Julius from the edge with 5 corns in my capital and second city (together, capital could use 4 of them)...that means LOTS of pretorians...eventought 5 cows would maybe be slightly better...

 

[Killroyan]

Oh crap, you mean there is actually a secret cow level in CIV IV just as in Diablo II?????