Guns, Germs, and Steel Characters

An intelligent, charismatic New Guinean politican who asks the question—“Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo … but we black people had little cargo of our own?”—to which Guns, Germs, and Steel is the 500-page answer.

Spanish conquistador in the early 16th century who conquered the Incan Empire and killed its emperor, Atahuallpa.

A Native American from the Blackfoot tribe who inspired Jared Diamond to research the environmental differences between Native American and European civilizations.

A 15th-century German blacksmith, printer, and inventor often credited with designing the modern printing press, which marked a major milestone in European history.

Ancient Greek philosopher.

French Enlightenment philosopher who posited that human beings are born in a state of perfection and are then corrupted by civilization.

Italian explorer who, funded by Spanish royalty, led a series of voyages to the New World beginning in 1492 A.D.

The powerful Incan emperor defeated by Pizarro in the early 16th century.