ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book discusses four major causes of breakthroughs in world history. They were climatic change, change in communication and transportation technology, competition between political elites, and scientific discoveries. All good political and military leaders prepare for contingencies. They calculate risks before taking action. They have fallback arrangements. Political and military accidents happen, for better or for worse, but most of them do not cause breakthroughs in world history. Improvements in communication and transportation technology increase the speed at which facts and ideas spread. Dietary changes are important but only derivative causes of breakthroughs in world history. Climatic changes, the availability of communication and transportation technology, exploration and discovery, trade, and population growth are probably the most important causes of dietary change.
