Ranked #2 in Aztec, Ranked #3 in Archaeology — see more rankings.
In this groundbreaking work of science, history, and archaeology, Charles C. Mann radically alters our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.
Contrary to what so many Americans learn in school, the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; rather, there were huge numbers of Indians who actively molded and influenced the land around them. The astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan had running water and immaculately clean streets, and was larger than any contemporary European city. Mexican cultures created corn in a...
Reviews and Recommendations
We've comprehensively compiled reviews of 1491 from the world's leading experts.
Adam Conover @TheBaltimoreSon @CharlesCMann Sure it! A total revolution in my understanding of history, all in one book. Amazing stuff. (Source)
Scott Keyes It’s one of those books that takes everything you thought you knew about the history of European colonialists and indigenous groups in the Americas and turns it on its head. Just a fascinating deep-dive into early American history that questions a lot of dogma we were taught in school. (Source)
Colin Calloway The book provides a huge hemispheric overview. (Source)
Rankings by Category
1491 is ranked in the following categories:
- #10 in American History
- #7 in Anthropology
- #20 in Chinese History
- #12 in Earth Science
- #51 in Ecology
- #72 in Environment
- #76 in European History
- #23 in Exploration
- #17 in Geography
- #26 in Historical Nonfiction
- #9 in History
- #78 in Indian
- #84 in Latin
- #43 in Life Sciences
- #41 in Mexico
- #6 in Native American
- #4 in Native American History
- #78 in New Adult
- #58 in Research
- #76 in Social Studies
- #27 in US History
- #9 in World History