system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Are the theories put forth in "Guns, Germs, and Steel" widely accepted by science?

I'm just curious. Jared Diamond seems to be making a lot of assumptions about the reactions of the minds of centuries old civilizations to technology such as guns, mounted horsemen, etc. I think the theory seems really clean and solid, but I keep wondering if all these little assumptions are true for certain.
gpt
It would be helpful if you could be more specific about what theories or maybe some examples. 

Diamond's main thesis is that the course of civilization was influenced by the starting conditions of geography and ecology. The idea that there are more easily domesticated animals in Eurasia and that the east-west orientation of the continent facilitates technology dispersion is generally well accepted. These two facts resulting in all geopolitical history up till now is more contested. 

The reactions in the minds seem fairly unimportant for the larger theory. The psychological impact of seeing a mounted rider was probably less important than lacking the knowledge to fight a mounted rider.