Native American History For Dummies

ISBN-13: 9780470148419 / Angielski / Miękka / 2007 / 384 str.

Stephen J. Spignesi

Opis

Call them Native Americans, American Indians, indigenous peoples, or first nations -- a vast and diverse array of nations, tribes, and cultures populated every corner of North America long before Columbus arrived. Native American History For Dummies reveals what is known about their pre-Columbian history and shows how their presence, customs, and beliefs influenced everything that was to follow. This straightforward guide breaks down their ten-thousand-plus year history and explores their influence on European settlement of the continent. You'll gain fresh insight into the major tribal nations, their cultures and traditions, warfare and famous battles; and the lives of such icons as Pocahontas, Sitting Bull and Sacagawea. You'll discover:

• How and when the Native American's ancestors reached the continent
• How tribes formed and where they migrated
• What North America was like before 1492
• How Native peoples maximized their environment
• Pre-Columbian farmers, fishermen, hunters, and traders
• The impact of Spain and France on the New World
• Great Warriors from Tecumseh to Geronimo
• How Native American cultures differed across the continent
• Native American religions and religious practices
• The stunning impact of disease on American Indian populations
• Modern movements to reclaim Native identity
• Great museums, books, and films about Native Americans

Packed with fascinating facts about functional and ceremonial clothing, homes and shelters, boatbuilding, hunting, agriculture, mythology, intertribal relations, and more, Native American History For Dummies provides a dazzling and informative introduction to North America's first inhabitants.

Spis treści

Introduction.

Part I: America Before It Was "America".

Chapter 1: The Rich, Troubled Past of the American Indian.

Chapter 2: The Great Migrations.

Chapter 3: The Development of the Ancient Cultures.

Chapter 4: Hardly a Vast Wasteland: America before 1492.

Chapter 5: Settling Down: Tribal Settlements after the Great Migrations.

Chapter 6: The Five Civilized Tribes.

Chapter 7: A Tally of Important Tribes.

Part II: Interacting with Others.

Chapter 8: "Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue".

Chapter 9: The Spanish and French Stake Their Claims.

Chapter 10: Native American Chiefs and Notable Women.

Chapter 11: Battle Cries and Peace Pipes.

Chapter 12: Delving into the Details of U.S.–Indian Relations.

Part III: Working for a Living.

Chapter 13: Mother Love.

Chapter 14: Dressing for Purpose and Pride.

Chapter 15: Home, Native Home.

Chapter 16: Tools and Transportation.

Part IV: All in the (Native American) Family.

Chapter 17: Tribes, Clans, and Bands.

Chapter 18: Native Languages.

Chapter 19: The Faith of Their Fathers . . . And How Native Americans Worship Today.

Part V: In a Modern World Not of Their Making.

Chapter 20: The Slow Dwindling of Native Americans.

Chapter 21: What s a Tribe, Who s an Indian, and What s the BIA Got to Do With It.

Chapter 22: Native Americans: Today and Tomorrow.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 23: Ten Native American Museums and Cultural Centers.

Chapter 24: Ten (Plus) Worthy Movies and Documentaries about Native Americans and Their History.

Index.

O autorze

Dorothy Lippert, PhD: Dorothy is Choctaw and an archaeologist. She received her BA from Rice University and her MA and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. She works in the Repatriation Office of the National Museum of Natural History. Dorothy serves on the Executive of the World Archaeological Congress and on the Board of Directors for the Society for American Archaeology. Her research interests include the development of Indigenous archaeology, repatriation, ethics, and the archaeology and bioarchaeology of the Southeastern United States.

Stephen J. Spignesi: Stephen Spignesi is a best–selling author of more than 40 books, including his highly–acclaimed debut novel, DIALOGUES (Bantam). His latest book is George Washington s Leadership Lessons (Wiley) written with James Rees, the Executive Director of George Washington s Mount Vernon. He is also the co–author of Second Homes for Dummies (Wiley). His book, JFK Jr. (Citadel), was a New York Times best–seller.

Blurb

Get an authentic perspective on Native peoples past, present and future

Understand key historical events as they actually happened

Want to know more about America′s indigenous peoples? This straightforward guide breaks down their thousand–year–plus history and explains their influence on European settlement of the continent. Gain fresh insight into the major tribal nations; their customs and traditions; warfare and famous battles; and the lives of such icons as Pocahontas, Sitting Bull, and Sacagawea.

Discover:

• How tribes formed and where they migrated

• The impact of Spain and France on the New World

• The lives of influential Indian men and women

• How Native peoples maximized their environment

• The meanings of their beliefs, symbols, and rituals