1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

Charles C. Mann clarifies North, Central, and South America's misty history by examining the continents' past landscapes, archeological records, and legends.

While this book was published almost two decades ago, there was a lot of information here that was new to me. Mann doesn't do most of his research from a desk. Instead, he travels to the places he discusses and talks to local residents and experts.

I appreciate his honesty in discussing the disagreements between the experts on topics like whether the Amazon basin ever had advanced civilizations. He explains the debates and why they matter. In doing so, he clarifies that archeologists, like everyone else, sometimes allow their values to color their conclusions. My only wish was that he had skipped around a little less geographically. Switching from North to South to Central America caused occasional mental whiplash.

While the stories cover a dizzying amount of material, the quantity is not unreasonable considering he's covering tens of thousands of years and that the acreage covers two massive continents. Mann weaves in stories that provide entertainment and humor. Whoever knew "Squanto," the friend of the Pilgrims, introduced himself to them as, roughly translated, "The Wrath of God." Things have always been more complicated than we are led to believe from a distance.

I enjoyed this book. It's densely packed with information, and this was generally welcome for someone interested in history. I'm sure since Mann wrote this book, scientists and historians have discovered many new artifacts, so I would love to see it updated. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in indigenous cultures or early American history. ( )

Un innovador estudio que altera radicalmente nuestra percepción de las Américas antes de la llegada de Colón en 1492

Insightful!

True confession? I have a rather large obsession with pre-history land masses. "Pre-history" meaning: before being found by "civilized" white folks. My obession started in Washington State and checking out glacial mounds there, fasicnating. Living in Louisiana and checking out Poverty Point, not realizing from this book that there was an even larger one closer to me.... Living in Illinois and dragging my family to Cahokia Mound by the Mississippi River. Traveling to Ireland to check out Newgrange. I do have it rather bad. Then this book mentions SO. MANY. MORE! I must admit I skimmed the first parts as they were more in South and Central America, but boy do I want to go to Belize even more now! Then, the chapters about North America, and it was right where I have been before. So exciting! I just love this stuff and really try to hold in the urge to recreate these things in my backyard but it is getting harder to do that. Anyway....I won't recommend this book to any of my friends because they will think I am crazier than I am. But, if any friends read this review and have their interests piqued, please let me know. :) ( )

A super interesting and in-depth look at the 2 American continents before they were colonized. The author brings a lot of new information suggesting the civilizations were much more abundant and advanced then thought. It is a very insight read and a new way to look at history at this part of the world. I highly recommend it. ( )