Product Description

Based on the latest scientific findings, this breakthrough book argues that most of what we thought we knew about the Americas before Columbus was wrong.

In the last 20 years, archaeologists and anthropologists equipped with new scientific techniques have made far-reaching discoveries about the Americas. For example, Indians did not cross the Bering Strait 12,000 years ago, as most of us learned in school. They were already here. Their numbers were vast, not few. And instead of living lightly on the land, they managed it beautifully and left behind an enormous ecological legacy.

In this riveting, accessible work of science, Charles Mann takes us on an enthralling journey of scientific exploration. We learn that the Indian development of modern corn was one of the most complex feats of genetic engineering ever performed. That the Great Plains are a third smaller today than they were in 1700 because the Indians who maintained them by burning died. And that the Amazon rain forest may be largely a human artifact.

Compelling and eye-opening, this book has the potential to vastly alter our understanding of our history and change the course of today's environmental disputes.

©2005 Charles C. Mann; (P)2005 HighBridge Company

查爾斯·C·曼恩是《大西洋月刊》、《科學》和《連綫》雜誌的撰稿人。他也為《財富》雜誌、《紐約時報》、《史密森尼》、《名利場》、《華盛頓郵報》供過稿，還為HBO電視颱的連續劇《法律與秩序》撰寫過腳本。作為曾三次進入美國國傢雜誌奬決賽的作者，曼恩至今已被美國律師協會、美國物理研究會、阿爾弗雷德·P·斯隆基金會和蘭南基金會授予過與寫作相關的奬項。《1491》贏得瞭美國國傢學院傳播奬的年度最佳圖書奬。他住在馬薩諸塞州的阿姆赫斯特。