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1-Page Summary of 1491
Published in 2005, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus was written by Charles C. Mann. The first chapter introduces several problems with popular accounts of native societies. For example, there is a tendency to minimize the cultures that existed prior to European arrival while exaggerating contemporary European culture and society as more complex than it actually is. This bias comes from both ignorance and Eurocentrism (the belief that Europe is culturally superior).
Chapter 2, “Why Billington Survived” tells the story of Squanto and his aid to the Pilgrims. Mann expands on Tisquantum’s background so that we can better understand why he helped them. This was a political move for him because it would help his tribe in the future. The name “Billington”—the surname of an ancestor of Mann—survives only because of Tisquantum’s aid to the colony. Mann highlights how traditional accounts tend to ignore politics and tribal relations, as well as Tisquantum’s own motivations
The third chapter of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus describes a civilization that rose and fell within a short period. The Inca Empire was unique in its geographic scale, cultural diversity, and political centralization. Unlike other civilizations at the time, it wasn’t bound by geography or natural borders; instead, it expanded as far north as Colombia to include many different cultures. It had an extensive road system that allowed for quick communication between leaders across the empire. This is evident in their ability to quickly mobilize troops after Pizzaro’s arrival on their shores and throughout South America.
Chapter 4 of Mann’s book focuses on the Aztec Empire and Hernán Cortés’ arrival in 1519. The author describes how Tenochtitlan was a wealthy, powerful city for its time, but it is overshadowed by another phenomenon: an epidemic that ravaged the territory of the Triple Alliance (also known as the Aztec Empire). The disease hypothesis for this epidemic combines with two other theories: a high level of centralization and a wealth of unhappy neighbors who wanted to topple them.
Chapter 5 of 1491 talks about the origins of Native Americans. One popular hypothesis is that they came from Eurasia over a land bridge between Alaska and Kamchatka. The chapter describes how scientists have tested this theory by sampling mitochondrial DNA, which has been found to be similar to Siberian populations. Climate studies suggest times when the land bridge was open for migration.
In chapter 6, the author talks about how the importance of certain agricultural products is different than what historians have assumed. For example, in Peru, cotton and maize are more important than fishing, which contradicts conventional accounts that early civilizations depended on maritime resources to develop. The author also points out that monuments were erected when local powers gained enough strength and security to support them.
The basis of Chapter 7, “Writing, Wheels and Bucket Brigades,” is the role of technology in early Mesoamerican society. The focus of this chapter is why some developments were absent or unapplied in Mesoamerica—such as the wheeled cart—while others, such as writing developed in ways contrary to that seen elsewhere. Mann’s explanation looks first at the geography of Mesoamerica which makes it difficult for wheeled transport before discussing how social need drives invention. The wheel was not an unknown concept but rather a technology unapplied because geographic challenges made it impractical to use them there. Meanwhile sophisticated mathematics were highly advanced and detailed calendars reflected religious beliefs about time.
