GunsGermsSteel excerpt

From Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jard Diamond  We also know now that, on every one of the well-studied oceanic islands colonized in the prehistoric era, human colonization led to an extinction spasm whose victims included the moas of New Zealand, the giant lemurs of Madagascar, and the big flightless geese of Hawaii. Just as modern humans walked up to unafraid dodos and island seals and killed them, prehistoric humans presumably walked up to unafraid moas and giant lemurs and killed them too. ...     The dodo, moas, and perhaps the giants of Australia/New Guinea had the misfortune suddenly to be confronted, without any evolutionary preparation, by invading humans possessing fully developed hunting skills. ... ...     "The governor then gave the signal to Candia, who began to fire off the guns. At the same time the trumpets were sounded, and the armored Spanish troops, both cavalry and infantry, sallied forth out of their hiding places straight into the mass of unarmed Indians crowding the square, giving the Spanish battle cry, 'Santiago!'" ...     Why did Athuallpa walk into the trap? In hindsight, we find it astonishing that Athuallpa marched into Pizzaro's obvious trap at Cajamarca. The Spaniards who captured him were equally surprised at their success. The consequences of literacy are prominent in the ultimate explanation. The immediate explanation is that Athuallpa had very little information about the Spaniards, their military power, and their intent. ... it never occurred to Athuallpa that the Spaniards were formidable and would attack him without provocation. 

© Jared Diamond