system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why are countries really far from the equator so much more advanced than countries on/near it?

It seems like the most technologically advanced countries are really far from the equator and most countries on/near it are "third world." Is it because the climate is way colder/less consistent far from the equator and inhabitants had to make advancements to adapt/survive in it?
gpt
Jared Diamond guns germs and steel is a book which goes in to this. Boils down to availability of animals you can domesticate that are any bloody use. The Llama for example isn't very strong, the zebra is feisty and also not strong, elephants are a bugger to breed. We had horses, we lucked out, the industrial revolution couldn't have happened as fast as it did without them - they were a labour saving device the likes of which people living on the equator didn't have until they'd got them from us. If you doubt this theory, try mining with the aid of a kangaroo to pull your wagon load of metal ore. People power is always there, but people aren't very strong and they tend to rebel.