A Great Intro, Abridged and Edited

Based on findings and debates in recent decades (published in 2009), this broad brush sketch of the Americas before Columbus presents a vastly different image than many of us grew up with. While basic outlines of more heavily populated continents ravaged by European diseases have already shown the error of the cultural and technological superiority narrative of conquest, this book goes further. With a focus on the long term origins of Native American population, their agricultural innovations (including the invention of maize, the milpa system of codependent and mutually fertilizing crops, and the potato), and their management by fire and labor of much of the continent for their support (from orchards in the Amazon to game preserves on the northern Plains), this work provides an easily digestible and valuable introduction to a complex and fascinating world only slowly becoming visible to us. Highly recommended.

5 people found this helpful

delightful way to know who. is who

a very informatuve way of knowing who is WHO in the world we live in. who was guilty and who was not. THANKS

3 people found this helpful

Excellent!!!

This was an amazing book! I loved the research and presentation! I am a major history nerd,. and it is hard to find in-depth books.. The narration was also done very well and the pronunciations accurate! If I could give it more than 5 stars in each category, I surely would! 🙂

2 people found this helpful

Fantastic!

I’m a history teacher and I loved 1491 and 1493. This book is a distilled version of those two. Especially the first. Great for beginners and experts. Really hits at the heart of 1491, without a whole lot of embellishment.

1 person found this helpful

The rating was 5 till I heard the pyramid part

Was very good book till I heard that pyramids of the coast of Peru is older than Egypt which is very wrong and amateurish statement. Civilizations progressed east to west not vice versa. When u research sumerian history especially clay tablets u understand that. Cheops did not build the pyramids 2600 bc he Reconstructed it even inventory Stela showing that what founded around 1850. Look water erosion on the sphinx. Water erosion is so deep it shows constant water flows. The climate at that time couldn't caused it. Indian old sacred txt and yugas describing the cycles very accurately
Saying that the Sahara desert drying up started 3900 BC which means that the greenish land and rainwater was happening before that and the great flood could cause the erosion as well which took place 9600 BC according to the Indian ancient txts. Pyramids and the culture is more older than the mainstream science tells u.

1 person found this helpful

Surprisingly fantastic.

This is supposedly written for middle graders, but I found it right up my alley. I thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson presented in such a delightful way. Extremely well done

1 person found this helpful

short and very informative

Tgey really dont teach us enough in school. this book is so informative and changed my perspective of american history. stephen mclaughlin is an excellent narrator for non fiction.

1 person found this helpful

Interesting narrator.

The narrator pronounced ecosystem like “echosystem”. I have never heard that pronunciation before. That's it.

This book is decent

I rate it 7/10 a a a a a a a a Apollo applol

Good book for starting your journey into history of America's

Has some editing to do and not call them Indians but otherwise enjoyed. Great way to start my journal into the history of the Americas.