500 Nations: An Illustrated History of North American Indians [Paperback]

Alvin M. Josephy Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1994

The story of Native American leaders, customs, political systems, and ways of life, this is American history from the Native American perspective: friendship, betrayal, war, and ultimately, the loss of homeland. A companion volume to the CBS series produced by Kevin Costner, Jack Leustig, and James Wilson scheduled to air in 1995. Illustrations & photos.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The companion volume to the 1995 popular PBS series of the same name, 500 Nations is a richly illustrated, absorbingly written history of North America's indigenous peoples. Drawing on creation stories, oral history, archaeological evidence, federal documents, and hundreds of published sources, Josephy takes us on an encyclopedic journey through Native America's past and present. Few scholars have Josephy's command of his broad and complex subject, and fewer still write as dexterously. The result: the best one-volume, general-interest study of Native American history now available.

From Publishers Weekly

This stunningly illustrated companion to a forthcoming CBS television series (produced by Kevin Costner, James Wilson and Jack Leustig) stands on its own as a stirring introduction to hundreds of distinct Native American nations that once blanketed the North American continent. Largely a story of conquest, displacement, betrayal, genocide and forced assimilation, the book wondrously fuses an eloquent text and more than 450 illustrations, most in color, to convey a sense of each tribe's culture, social structure and struggle to survive in the face of white settlers' encroachments. Distinguished historian Josephy (The Patriot Chiefs) has written an extraordinary work focusing on a Native American viewpoint, which ranges from the ancient Maya and Olmec civilizations of Mexico to Hopewellian mound-builders of the Ohio Valley who forged a continent-wide trade network before A.D. 500, to the democratic Nez Perces of Idaho, Washington State and Oregon, nearly exterminated by 1880. 100,000 first printing; History Book Club main selection; BOMC alternate.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 468 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1 edition (November 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679429301
• ISBN-13: 978-0679429302
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Introduction to Native American History, January 25, 2002

By 

Matthew S. Schweitzer "zohoe" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 500 Nations: An Illustrated History of North American Indians (Paperback)

This is a wonderfully illustrated history of the Indian nations of North and Central America, From pre-Columbian times to the present. The text is straight forward and easy to read. The entire book is illustrated with rare and enticing paintings, photos, and drawings which help to recreate a powerful history of an ancient people. 500 Nations covers the history of the prehistoric peoples, the arrival of Columbus and the conquest of the New World. It shows how the world of the North American Indians was changed by growing contact with white traders and how, in the end, their world was entirely overwhelmed by the powerful drive of Manifest Destiny. This is definately meant as an introduction to the subject and thus does not delve deeply into the the meat of the matter, but it is still well worth the price for anyone interested in the history of our land and its original inhabitants.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening experiance, May 13, 2005

By 

Amanda J. White (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 500 Nations: An Illustrated History of North American Indians (Hardcover)

This book opened my eyes to my heritage as a Native American (Hopi/Zuni). Straightforward writing, beautiful illustrations & wonderful pictures. I liked this book because it is a comprehensive study of the First Nations through prehistoric times to the Great Civilizations on to the time of Columbus and the coming of the Europeans. Finally, to the dissemination & destruction of the Native People's religion & culture. This book delves into an often overlooked period of American history- the Native slave trade. For hundreds of years Native peoples were kidnapped and forced into servitude, either sent to European countries or to European owned plantations in the Caribbean. The average Native died within a year after being captured due to harsh cruelty or European disease for which they had no immunity. European diseases wiped out whole tribal populations. I fully recommend that anyone interested in real American history reads this book.

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Hurts, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 500 Nations: An Illustrated History of North American Indians (Paperback)

Throughout my days in school, prior to college, the history classes taught me a sugar coated version of what happened in our history. Obviously, history is indeed written by the victors, and most likely, the version will be slanted towards making the ones in charge look good. This book did not focus on an anthropological study, but rather the effects of the Europeans upon the many tribes. In almost all cases, the effect was horrific for the native tribes. If you want to know what injustices were done to the Native Americans by historical figures such as Columbus, for example, read this book. It is not easy to read, but it does open your eyes to how this country came to be.