it's always struck me as a bit odd that the countries with the warmest climates tend to also be the poorest, get humanity originated near the equator. you'd think that the most developed civilisations would be in climates that are least hostile. it's not that it never happened (just look at South America) but you'd expect it to be happening a lot. it's almost as if a tougher climate makes people come up with more stuff. yet this isn't true either. there are peoples up north that stayed tribal until the 20th century. yet, on average, colder places tend to develop faster. it doesn't only apply to the west. Beijing is in northern China, for example. it's often the northern cities that develop the fastest, beyond a certain latitude where the low population density just doesn't allow it anymore.