[Jean-M]

Another theory that can help to account for the phenomenon you describe has to do with geography. Generally, technological advances occur in areas where many different cultures mix and interact because the interaction introduces and spreads new ideas, brings different viewpoints together, lets people see various solutions to the same problem and combine and improve upon them, etc. This kind of interaction historically occurs in places like the crossroads of several trading routes. Geographic features, like navigable rivers, mountain passes, good natural harbors and the like are big factors in where trading routes go, and trading routes used by many different cultures result in cultural mixing. Europe has abundant navigable rivers, many good harbors, etc., whereas much of Africa does not. Therefore, European peoples had a geographic advantage that made the necessary cultural mixing more likely than it was in Africa, where travel was more difficult. Thus, to some extent technological advancement or otherwise can be a factor of geographic location. I wish I could say these were my ideas, but I read them in some books by Thomas Sowell. I recommend his work highly because it explores many different ways in which things like geography and culture can influence technological advancement while maintaining what seems to me a fair and balanced viewpoint of humanity in general.

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Name : Jean-M, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 38, City : Plano, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Writer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

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