... throughout the world had well-organized societies with distinctive cultural traditions." (Bentley 2003, 602). What were the decisive factors that brought Europe to the forefront of the four areas that defined this period? Biology, technology, ideology and economy all made instrumental gains during this era, most notably in Europe and in certain areas throughout the world. Europe and its ensuing influence on economic, political, and cultural development throughout the globe was assisted by a host of mitigating factors, location, demographics, religion, trade, survival and conquest. To change any of these factors may have caused a shift in power and a following rise for another civilization. European domination by the nineteenth century was inevitable, driven by the forces of geographic location, trade relations, ideology and technological advancement, culminating with the drive for expansion around the globe. The argument proposed by Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel on geographic determinism is well suited ...

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