Native Americans of the Southwest: The Serious Traveler's Introduction To Peoples and Places [Paperback]

Zdenek Salzmann (Author), Joy M. Salzmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 1997

This guide to the Native Americans of the Southwest is a concise but comprehensive introduction that gives readers a sound anthropological and historical background to the area and fosters an appreciation of the Native American peoples who continue to make the Southwest their home. The authors offer individual sections on the main prehistoric and contemporary peoples of the region, describing their ways of life, their art, and their cultural monuments.For those eager to see at least some of these cultural monuments and to learn about Native American cultures from the many museums that dot the region, this book offers a guide to the most memorable sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. In addition, the authors provide a comprehensive list of museums and a calendar of tribal events that are open to interested visitors: rodeos, fairs, dances, and festivals. Maps are also included to assist the visitor in locating the sites discussed in the book.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Anthropologist Salzmann and his wife, Joy, an English teacher, offer here a serious traveler's, i.e., academic's, introduction to the Southwest. The text is largely an abbreviated scholarly presentation of the historical anthropology of the region. Each of the region's Native American tribes is presented separately, with maps depicting their locations and a discussion of their way of life. Also included are chapters on Southwestern arts and crafts and prehistoric monuments in the area. Two appendixes list exhibits, museums, cultural centers, and special events. This is definitely not your basic travel guide; you won't find hotel and restaurant accommodations. For travelers who seeks to be educated as well as entertained.?Julia Stump,Voorheesville P.L.,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Native Americans Of The Southwest: The Serious Traveler's Introduction To Peoples And Places is a both a guidebook and a comprehensive introduction that gives readers a sound anthropological and historical background to the area and fosters an appreciation of the Native American peoples who continue to make the Southwest their home. The authors offer individual sections on the main prehistoric and contemporary peoples of the region, describing their ways of life, their art, and their cultural monuments. Native Americans Of The Southwest is ideal for the vacationing traveler wanting to visit memorable sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. In addition there is a comprehensive list of museums and a calendar of tribal events open to visitors including rodeos, fairs, dances, and festivals. Maps are also included to assist the visitor in locating the sites discussed in Native Americans Of The Southwest. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (March 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813322790
• ISBN-13: 978-0813322797
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,843,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars An Adequate Survey with a fine Intro, January 10, 2011

By 

Herbert L Calhoun "paulocal" (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Native Americans of the Southwest: The Serious Traveler's Introduction To Peoples and Places (Paperback)

Although this book has an impressive anthropological introduction, and gives an adequate survey and descriptions of the primary tribes of the Southwest, it must remain relegated to the category of "travel lodge information," rather than be considered certified Native American history.

Of particular interest (and I found it to be very useful) was the map appearing on page 16, of the boundaries of the primary pre-historic cultures giving rise to the tribes and nations of the Southwest; viz, the Mogollons, the Hohokams, the Anasazis, and the Hakatayas. However the descriptions of the respective cultures, can only be considered the stripped-down version as the details are skimpy and formulaic. And even though the authors tried to provide at least minimal historical context, a lot was still left to be desired. For those interested only in a summary glimpse of what the Native American tribes of the Southwest are like, this book must certainly be considered a useful introduction.

However, for a more in depth look, I suggest the very readable and lavishly illustrated "500 Nations," by Alvin M. Josephy, Jr.; or, Colin F. Taylor's "The Native Americans." In this same class interested readers may also want to consult: Duane Champagne's "Native America: Portrait of the Peoples." Each of these references covers the same terrain as this book and much much more, and in quite a bit more depth.

And finally, as either a first or last resort, one cannot do better than Frederick E. Hoxie's "Encyclopedia of North American Indians." Again, all of the Southwest tribes are present and discussed in nearly as much depth as in the present volume. Three stars