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Ask PG: Why wasn't the iPhone invented in 1907?
6 points by nrao123 on April 1, 2014 | hide | past | favorite
Assuming you have more time to write essays now :)

Do you think you will be able to outline broad societal theories/hypotheses on why the iPhone wasn't invented 100 years ago?

This is similar to the "Spanish conquistadors" question that led Jared Diamond to write the book Guns, Germs & Steel: On November 15th 1532, 168 Spanish conquistadors arrive in the holy city of Cajamarca, at the heart of the Inca Empire, in Peru. They are exhausted, outnumbered and terrified – ahead of them are camped 80,000 Inca troops and the entourage of the Emperor himself. Yet, within just 24 hours, more than 7,000 Inca warriors lie slaughtered; the Emperor languishes in chains; and the victorious Europeans begin a reign of colonial terror which will sweep through the entire American continent.

Why wasn't it the other way around i.e. why didn't the Incan's attack the Spaniards?

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Similarly- why wasn't the iPhone invented a 100 years ago?




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