Jared Diamond attempts to answer Yali's question of why some societies developed advanced technologies while others did not by examining environmental and geographic factors. Some key points: - Domesticable plants and animals first emerged in different parts of the world, giving some regions an early advantage. - Eurasia's east-west axis allowed crops and technologies to spread more easily compared to the Americas' north-south axis, which faced more environmental barriers. - Written language also developed first in Eurasia, aiding record-keeping and administration as societies grew more complex. - Dense populations in places like the Fertile Crescent and China facilitated additional innovations building upon previous technologies over generations.