Guns, Germs, and Steel (2/3) - Conquest [subtitles: EN, PT-BR]

Nota Bene・2 minutes read

Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, conquered the Inca Empire in Peru through superior weaponry, strategy, and unintentional biological advantages, reshaping global power dynamics in the process. The clash of civilizations and impact of diseases from domestic animals played a crucial role in the Spanish colonization of the New World, highlighting the unintended consequences of European conquest and colonization.

Insights

  • The Spanish conquistadors' conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru was enabled by their superior weaponry, including guns and steel swords, as well as their strategic advantage of utilizing horses for farming and military purposes.
  • The devastating impact of diseases on Native Americans, lacking immunity due to no prior contact with European farm animals, played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of Peru, showcasing the accidental advantage of possessing guns, germs, and steel in reshaping global power dynamics through colonization.

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Recent questions

  • How did the Spanish conquer the Inca Empire?

    Through superior weaponry, strategy, and surprise attacks.

  • What role did geography play in the conquest of the Inca Empire?

    Geography influenced the success of European conquest.

  • What motivated the Spanish conquistadors in South America?

    Greed for gold and glory drove their conquest.

  • How did the lack of immunity to diseases impact the Inca Empire?

    Devastating epidemics weakened the Inca Empire.

  • What advantages did the Spanish possess over the Incas?

    Superior weaponry, horses, and strategic planning.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Spanish Conquest of Inca Empire"

  • In November 1532, 168 Spaniards attacked the Inca Empire in Peru, massacring 7,000 people and taking control without losing a single Spanish life.
  • Professor Jared Diamond explores the power dynamics between the Old and New Worlds, attributing success to geography, crops, and animals.
  • Francisco Pizarro, a retired army captain, leads Spanish conquistadors in search of gold and glory in South America.
  • The Spanish were the first Europeans to reach the Inca Empire, encountering a clash of cultures with the native civilization.
  • The Inca Empire spanned 2,500 miles along the Andes, while Spain had recently unified after centuries of occupation.
  • Pizarro, from a rural Spanish town, conquered the Inca Empire, sparking interest in the roots of European conquest.
  • Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent gave Europeans an advantage with productive crops and animals, unlike the Incas.
  • European farmers utilized horses for farming and military purposes, giving them a significant edge over the Incas.
  • The Spanish conquistadors' advanced weaponry, including guns and steel swords from Toledo, played a crucial role in their conquest.
  • Pizarro's band of adventurers, driven by greed for gold, entered the valley of Cajamarca in 1532, unaware of the trap set by the Inca emperor Ataxalpa.

23:22

Inca Conquest: Fear, Surprise, and Superiority

  • Pizzaro's camp is described as resembling a beautiful city, causing fear among the conquistadors due to their small numbers in the Inca land.
  • Captain De Soto leads a party of horsemen into the Inca camp to intimidate Ataxalpa in front of his people.
  • Ataxalpa remains calm in the face of the horse, challenging Soto's bluff and showing no fear.
  • The Inca leader eventually explodes, indicating that it's time for the Spaniards to pay, possibly with their lives.
  • The conquistadors, facing an army of 80,000 Incas, spend a fearful night in Cajamarca.
  • Pizarro decides to launch a surprise attack on Ataxalpa, inspired by Cortez's conquest of the Aztecs.
  • The lack of writing among the Incas is highlighted, contrasting with the Spaniards' access to knowledge through books.
  • The spread of writing and its impact on the development of civilizations is discussed, emphasizing its importance in transmitting knowledge.
  • The geographical differences between Eurasia and the Americas hindered the spread of crops, animals, and ideas, favoring the Europeans.
  • Ataxalpa's meeting with the Spaniards in Cajamarca leads to a surprise attack, where the Incas, unprepared for horses, suffer heavy losses due to the Spaniards' superior weaponry and strategy.

45:49

"Origins of Killer Diseases and Global Conquest"

  • Killer diseases of humans evolved from germs of domestic animals, such as 'flu from pigs transmitted via chickens and ducks, measles from cattle, and smallpox from domestic animals, due to 10,000 years of contact.
  • Europeans developed genetic resistance to infectious diseases through repeated epidemics during the Middle Ages, leading to increased resilience and survival rates, passing on genetic resistance over centuries.
  • Native Americans lacked immunity to diseases like smallpox due to no history of contact with farm animals like European cows and sheep, resulting in devastating epidemics upon exposure.
  • European conquest of the New World, including the Spanish colonization of Peru, was facilitated by the accidental advantage of possessing guns, germs, and steel, leading to the reshaping of global power dynamics through colonization.
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