HISTORY OF PRE-COLONIAL AMERICA

HISTORY OF PRE-COLONIAL AMERICA

Introduction

America is a continent situated at the western side of the globe. It is comprised of the North and South America. The larger part of North America is the world’s superpower; the United States of America (USA). The Article 1491 puts together the findings of archeologists, historians, geologists and even anthropologists to explain the culture of the Americas during the pre-colonial era. This paper gives the points in the article which are interesting and surprising and how this article may change our understanding of pre-colonial America.

Body

It is both interesting and surprising how the article addresses in depth and clearly two critical questions that had stunned scientists and anthropologists. According to Mann, (2005) the questions are one the peopling of the Americas (that is, how and when it happened) and the depopulation of the Americas thereafter. First, the article answers the question on peopling of the Americas simply by saying that the first peoples may have arrived 30,000 or more years ago. These people may have come by boats from Europe. It goes on to explain that these did not happen as a mass migration but a series of little migrations spread over several years. Secondly, the article explains that the Americans were hit by European sicknesses which reduced greatly the population. Diseases such as smallpox, influenza, measles, plague, cholera, and other diseases swept the Americas at different times and places. Each outbreak was a catastrophe and large number of deaths occurred since there was no cure or escape. (Knopf, 2005)

The civilization of America today may make many people think that they did not require input from outside for its development. The article portrays America as land that showed no signs of civilization until it were inhabited by Europeans. It gives an explanation of the inventions that happened thanks to the challenges faced after the migrations. It gives an insight of how the impact of Indians and their actual place in the history of America has not been touched as expected by historians. (Warren, 2007)

Conclusion

Article 1491 gives an interesting overview of the history of America in the pre-colonial era. It changes the readers understanding of the Americas in general. It feels adequately the gaps left by historians in the story of America. It is worth the read.

References

Mann, C. C. (2005). 1491: New revelations of the Americas before Columbus. Alfred a     Knopf Incorporated.

Mann, C. C., & Williams, T. H. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.

Warren, D. (2007). We the peoples: When American education began. American   Educational     History Journal, 34(1/2), 235.