1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus review

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann (Author). In this groundbreaking work of science, historical past, and archaeology, Charles C. Mann radically alters our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492. Contrary to what so many Individuals study in school, the pre-Columbian Indians weren’t sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; quite, there were big numbers of Indians who actively molded and influenced the land round them. The astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan had operating water and immaculately clear streets, and was larger than any modern European city. Mexican cultures created corn in a specialized breeding course of that it has been known as man’s first feat of genetic engineering. Certainly, Indians were not residing frivolously on the land but were landscaping and manipulating their world in ways that we are only now beginning to understand. Challenging and stunning, this a transformative new look at a rich and engaging world we solely thought we knew.

Mann’s glorious guide does not ship “new” revelations a lot as a completed and respected historian’s summation of the salient factors identified to this point concerning the history of the Americas. Actually a lot of the material is new to many readers, and in Mann’s competent prose, the knowledge is introduced in an understandable and compelling style. Considerably, Mann balances his sound and rigorous research with suppositions based mostly on his own remarkable insights. It is a clever and interesting learn for the lay historian–in addition to a vital e-book for researchers in early American history.

Charles Mann has completed an awesome service to all peoples of the Americas with this positive book.

He culls the research of numerous archaeologists, anthropologists and other scientists from the previous 20 years to disclose a historical past that has been waiting too long for a voice.

The text could be very reader friendly and permits even the most scientifically uninitiated to know advanced ideas. In addition to making dense scholarly materials accessible to the average reader he does so in a well rounded method that makes observe of criticisms of varying theories, allowing for the those excited about studying dissenting views to know the place to look.

A fully improbable read. A revelation. A should-learn for all desirous about their American historical past and the battles and conflicts that formed a hemisphere.

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

Charles C. Mann (Author)

541 pages

Vintage; 1st edition (October 10, 2006)

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