Before Columbus: The America of 1491. Charles C. Mann. New York, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009. 117 pages. $24.99 (Hardcover). ISBN978-1-4169-4900-8. Grades 6-12.
It turns out history books had it wrong, and Charles C. Mann wants to set the record straight in Before Columbus: The America of 1491. Mann constructs a strongly supported framework of Pre-Columbian America by blending colorful images of artifacts, maps, and carefully selected photographs with tremendous amounts of research. This historical snapshot is organized around three questions: How Old was the “New World?,” “Why did Europe Succeed?”, and “Were the Americas Really a Wilderness?”. The chapters are broken down in to comprehendible, bite sized pieces utilizing simple metaphors and a conversational style of writing that are perfect for his adolescent audience. Leaving no stone unturned, Mann addresses agriculture, infrastructure, religion, warfare, economic systems, ecosystems and so much more. This comprehensive title is sure to pique the curiosity of future archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians as well as any scholar in between. Mann dispel myths of history classes passed while also teaching readers that there is much about history we have yet to discover. A glossary and list of resources for further reading add to this book's value as a great tool for the classroom or for general knowledge enhancement. Highly Recommended
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