1491

This week, I finished reading Charles C. Mann's 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. The book essentially summarizes the major historical, archaeological, and anthropological research of the last fifty years related to Native American history and cultural development. "New" is a relative term, of course, but I found a great deal of the information not only new but fascinating. The two most astonishing revelations were:

1. Many researchers believe smallpox killed ninety or more percent of the Native American population in the first century or so after European contact. I had known smallpox was an epidemic, but these numbers are staggering. By the time Europeans began to settle in significant numbers, what had once been complex, thriving, sophisticated societies had been reduced to shadows of their former selves.

2. There is substantial evidence that Native Americans, particularly in South America, fundamentally reshaped the landscape to suit their own purposes. They planted vast forests, rerouted rivers, and constructed miles of causeways. What Europeans believed to be a vast, untamed wilderness was likely a series of the world's largest orchards and gardens.

Unlike most works of history, Mann's book is very readable. He never seems to get bogged down in jargon or tied up in academic minutia. I have no doubt professional historians take issue with some of his simplifications, but as a lay reader, I found it to be clear, concise, and as I said, fascinating. If you're at all interested in Native American history or culture, read this book.