Throughout history, it has been seen that human societies have collapsed, and ceases to exist today. Some societies include Somalia, Ruanda, and Yugoslavia. Today, there are societies that are at risk of collapsing, such as Nepal, Indonesia, and Columbia. Jarred Diamond believed that the study and analysis of why some societies collapsed is the only way for us to avoid making the same mistakes and suffering the same fate. He has developed a five point framework that allows him to understand the different factors that led to the collapse of a specific society. The first point is human impact on the environment, human inadvertently destroying the resources they depend on. The second point is climate change, having the climate become noticeable warmer, colder, dryer, or wetter. The third point is relations with neighboring friendly societies. Some friendly societies help “prop up” another society, and if that support is taken away then there is a better chance for that society to collapse. The fourth point is relations with hostile societies. The final and fifth point is the political, economic, social, and cultural factors of the society that will make it more likely for it to perceive and solve its environmental problems. These five points, provided by Diamond, allows us to have a better understanding of why some societies have collapsed. One particular society that Diamond focuses heavily on is the Norse Greenland society that collapsed around 1450. Since they were a literate society, there was a good amount of information surrounding their background which allows for the 5 point framework to be applied easily. The Norse Vikings, “were farmers that relied on the particular animals and crops that grew well in southern Norway, which became an important consideration in overseas Viking history, not only because they were readily available for transportation, but also because those species were involved in Vikings’ social values” (Diamond 188). In other words, nature was very important for the Norse, not just economically but also socially. Regardless of their appreciation for nature, “the Norse damaged their environment in at least three ways: destroying natural vegetation, by causing soil erosion, and by cutting turf” (Diamond 248). Their lack of knowledge about the environment led them to overuse it, and inadvertently destroying it from attempting to make the area more habitable. With Diamond’s second point, climate change, it was seen that temperatures began to drop. As a result of these lower temperatures, the Vikings have to try and utilize their environment to provide them with warmth. Yet, with no thick lumper, because it was used for charcoal to make iron, the Norse ran into a shortage of timber and firewood (Diamond 253). This shortage made the cold temperatures even more difficult to survive. The third point, relations with friendly societies, the Norse Vikings had a trade system with their mother country, Norway. Yet, this trade began to dwindle because Norway grew weaker, and because of the difficulty in reaching the Norse Vikings due to sea ice (Diamond). With less supplies in their surrounding areas, and little to no
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Yet, what would happen if it was applied it our own society in America? Personally, I feel that we are following the same path as the Vikings. Although, I feel like the situation in America involves the entire human race, and not just American, itself. We are directly responsible for the degradation of Earth’s natural resources, and very little action is being taken to prevent its destruction. For Diamond’s first point, it is obvious that Americans have a negative impact on the environment. America has factories and cars emitting CO₂, disposing of plastic materials which can decompose easily, over hunting and manufacturing of animals, use of fossil fuels, destruction of natural habitats, disposal of toxic waste in the environment, and much more. Needless today, America has a negative influence on nature. For the second point, is something that not only affects America, but also the entire world. With the emission of CO₂, comes the buildup of greenhouse gasses, and results in the warming of the earth. In America, temperatures seem to be rising, and the time between winter and summer shifting. This warming has also been responsible for droughts throughout America, noticeably in
Yet, what would happen if it was applied it our own society in America? Personally, I feel that we are following the same path as the Vikings. Although, I feel like the situation in America involves the entire human race, and not just American, itself. We are directly responsible for the degradation of Earth’s natural resources, and very little action is being taken to prevent its destruction. For Diamond’s first point, it is obvious that Americans have a negative impact on the environment. America has factories and cars emitting CO₂, disposing of plastic materials which can decompose easily, over hunting and manufacturing of animals, use of fossil fuels, destruction of natural habitats, disposal of toxic waste in the environment, and much more. Needless today, America has a negative influence on nature. For the second point, is something that not only affects America, but also the entire world. With the emission of CO₂, comes the buildup of greenhouse gasses, and results in the warming of the earth. In America, temperatures seem to be rising, and the time between winter and summer shifting. This warming has also been responsible for droughts throughout America, noticeably in