Wednesday, August 19, 2015

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

Author: Charles G. Mann
Stars: 2
Review by: MandyApgar

Boring and dry but still a little better than 1491. Most of the imperialism that cluttered that book is missing from this one, focusing on global interactions (especially with crops) between cultures of the period. Although I have issue with anyone saying that Columbus discovered our world when it was already inhabited by people doing just fine without him, Mann does have some decent parts here. Globalization of crops (including a nod at the long and vast history of genetic manipulation of food stuffs), a section on rubber, silver, and a section on tobacco (good for its own few mentions but not a very good account of Jamestown) are some of the bits included. It was still just so dry and dull with a slight air of superiority.
 

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