Viewing Questions for Guns, Germs, and Steel Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4008293090480628280

What were key foraging plants for gatherers in:
a) the Middle East:  Wild barley and wheat
b) New Guinea: wild Sago
How did the nutritional quality and storage ability of these plants vary by region? easily stored
Barley and wheat, more protein, easily stored
What happened around 12,500 years ago in terms of climate? How did it affect the environment of the Middle East?

What kinds of grain were stored in the early Middle Eastern village?

Where were the world's regions of early agriculture?

Why wasn’t farming in the highlands of New Guinea associated with other cultural advances?

New Guinea farmers of the Central Highlands have been farming there for 10,000 years. Why didn't their farming there send them down the same path of civilization as elsewhere?
Taro is hard to grow, hard to store, low in protein, similar to limitations of local bananas they grow.
Lack of domesticated animals
Discuss how the concept of “those with the most productive crops became the most productive farmers” played out in different regions of the world.

Could taro and bananas have sustained American progress as well as wheat and corn have done? Why or why not?

Discuss the emerging role of domesticated animals in the Middle East.

How did the Fertile Crescent lose its head start?