Over the last few years of making videos the most engaging and interesting criticisms of my videos have come from people who I would call Geographic determinists. People who believe that the way certain socio-political structures are shaped, is heavily dependent upon and influenced by the geography that surrounds a society.
I want to make clear that I do not dismiss geographic determinism, I find it to be an interesting position, and have to concede that more often than not - geographic determinists are correct.
I would merely like to explain why I, am not a geographic determinist.
Here is the Youtube link if that helps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnB_8Zm9lPk
The desert thing is part of the issue, but there's more to it, as explained in the video