1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

2005 • 578 pages

Ratings82

Average rating4.1

15

This was a fascinating read. I had a nebulous understanding of Mann's basic thesis (that pre-European contact American societies were larger and more complex than are usually taught) but seeing it all laid out in a systematic fashion was greatly appreciated. This is especially true for situations were Mann makes direct comparisons between aboriginal cultures and where European cultures were developmentally at the same time; for someone with a Eurocentric education it helped me put everything in context.

July 6, 2016