In his book “Guns, Germs and Steel,” Jared Diamond argues that societies that have prevailed and conquered others (for example, Eurasian societies) have been lucky in terms of environment. This has allowed them to enjoy advantages and adaptations that other cultures have not had. When he discusses the case of Papua New Guinea, he gives several reasons for the lack of technological development they had before the arrival of Europeans:
Lack of large mammals that could be of help in transportation or agriculture.
Isolation from other major cultures.
Lack of domesticable animals.
Lack of domesticable crops.
Enormous natural barriers that prevented constant contact between various cultural groups.
