The Great Encounter: Native Peoples and European Settlers in the Americas, 1492-1800 - Hardcover

Sokolow, Jayme A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0765609827 ISBN 13: 9780765609823

Publisher: Routledge, 2002

Synopsis

Traditional histories of North and South America often leave the impression that Native American peoples had little impact on the colonies and empires established by Europeans after 1492. This groundbreaking study, which spans more than 300 years, demonstrates the agency of indigenous peoples in forging their own history and that of the Western Hemisphere. By putting the story of the indigenous peoples and their encounters with Europeans at the center, a new history of the "New World" emerges in which the Native Americans become vibrant and vitally important components of the British, French, Spanish, and Portuguese empires. In fact, their presence was the single most important factor in the development of the colonial world. By discussing the "great encounter" of peoples and cultures, this book provides a valuable, new perspective on the history of the Americas.

About this title

From Library Journal:

In his ambitious title, Sokolow (An American Utopia) aims to demonstrate the important role of native peoples in shaping the way of life that emerged in the Americas following the arrival of Europeans. At the same time, he also attempts to show the influence of Native Americans on the political, economic, and social cultures of the French, British, Spanish, and Portuguese empires. If that isn't enough, Sokolow also tries to draw connections from the colonial era to the problems facing Native Americans today. With such a large agenda, it is no surprise that the author fails to deliver. The strengths of this work are the vignettes that focus on specific events, thereby casting light on the interrelationship between Natives and Europeans. Unfortunately, these episodes do not fit well into an integrated narrative because the author fails to recognize that the experiences of those natives who came in contact with the Spanish or Portuguese differed significantly from those who encountered the French or British; one cannot make generalizations applying to the entire hemisphere. Appropriate for academic libraries with comprehensive Native American studies collections.
John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0765609827
• ISBN 13: 9780765609823
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 310