Hi Bill,
Obviously, religion had much to do with the outcome. The Spaniards had a religion well suited for conquest, unlike that of those who were conquered. The religion of the natives controlled their way of thinking how they conducted wars - which often defied logic. While the natives waited for the right omen to launch an attack (for example, sound of a sacred bird), the Spaniards were already in an advanced stage of battle preparation.
I too like Diamond's theories, but also think they are too simplistic.
Nonoy
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