The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast [Paperback]

Theda Perdue (Author), Michael D Green (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0231115709 | ISBN-13: 978-0231115704 | Publication Date: December 15, 2001

Though they speak several different languages and organize themselves into many distinct tribes, the Native American peoples of the Southeast share a complex ancient culture and a tumultuous history. This volume examines and synthesizes their history through each of its integral phases: the complex and elaborate societies that emerged and flourished in the Pre-Columbian period; the triple curse of disease, economic dependency, and political instability brought by the European invasion; the role of Native Americans in the inter-colonial struggles for control of the region; the removal of the "Five Civilized Tribes" to Oklahoma; the challenges and adaptations of the post-removal period; and the creativity and persistence of those who remained in the Southeast.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast, Theda Perdue (Cherokee Women) and Michael D. Green (The Creeks), University of North Carolina professors of, respectively, history and American studies, track the various Southeastern peoples from the pre-Columbian period of societal development through the invasion by Europeans, the colonial era, the exile of the "Five Civilized Tribes" to Oklahoma and the experience of those who stayed in the Southeast. Taking a decidedly more conventional, less postmodern approach than its counterpart on Asian America (see below), this volume examines not only the history but also the methodologies, attitudes and assumptions common to the historical study of American Indians. Photos.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Renowned scholars on the ethnohistory of southeastern native peoples and coeditors of the University of Nebraska's "Indians of the Southeast" series, Perdue and Green have produced a long-needed handbook that fills a significant niche in the reference literature. The first half of the text focuses on the history and culture of the region's native groups. This includes not only the Mississippian Moundbuilder cultures that arose between 800 and 1000 C.E. but also well-known native groups such as the Cherokee and Creeks. One notable feature is that, unlike many titles on the same subject, this book does not conclude with the journey of the "five civilized tribes" on the Trail of Tears. Instead, it continues documenting the experiences of those natives forced onto reservations in Oklahoma and those who avoided removal and continue to live in the region today. Immediately following the survey are alphabetically arranged entries focusing on individuals, places, and events. The final two sections are a chronology and a listing of resources for further research, which include published primary sources, oral traditions, films, and Internet sites. Until the long-promised Southeast volume of the Smithsonian's "Handbook of the North American Indians" series is published, this will probably be the reference of choice on the topic and is an essential purchase for all libraries collecting books about Native Americans. John Burch, Campbellsville Univ., KY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231115709
• ISBN-13: 978-0231115704
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,195,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first in a seven-volume reference series, March 26, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast (Paperback)

Collaboratively written by Theda Perdue (professor of history, University of North Carolina) and Michael D. Green (professor of American studies, University of North Carolina), The Columbia Guide To American Indians Of The Southeast is the first in a seven-volume reference series on the history and culture of Native Americans. This fine volume is divided into four major parts: Part 1 provides an overview of cultures, history, and key points of controversy; Part 2 is an alphabetically arranged compact encyclopedia of individuals, places, major treaties and more; Part 3 is a chronology of major events; and Part 4 includes bibliographies, museums, Internet sites, addresses of tribes and much more for the fascinated reader to further his or her wisdom. A solid, heavily researched, reliable reference, fun to browse through, and superb for looking up facts, figures, and history about Native Americans of the Southeast, The Columbia Guide To American Indians Of The Southeast is a welcome, invaluable, scholarly addition to Native American studies reading lists and reference collections.