There are several reasons that some societies are more advanced than others. Here in the USA we have received the benefits of cultures from almost every place on our planet and their contributions have given us an advantage over other societies.One factor is geography.another reason my be that some cultures have access to enough food and have no need to advance at all. Another reason may be diseases brought from one culture to another resulting in plagues.A good example of this is smallpox which killed many native Americans who had no natural defenses against it This allowed the displacement of native cultures..Another reasons may be weapons technology.Gunpowder revolutionized warfare and allowed Europeans to displace less advanced cultures through force.There is a book that I would highly recommend: Guns,Germs,and Steel by Jared Diamond.
