"Why did such a culture develop in these societies?" 'Guns, Germs and Steel' by Jared Diamond is probably the best attempt at answering that that I have read.

"Why did such a culture develop in these societies?" 'Guns, Germs and Steel' by Jared Diamond is probably the best attempt at answering that that I have read. His version of the Needham Question was put to him by a member of the John Frum cargo cult, and it is basically "How did your people end up with all the cargo?".