From Library Journal
This mistitled volume is in fact a compact yet wide-ranging account of Native American history and life illustrated with 122 maps. Waldman competently summarizes Indian prehistory, cultural patterns, contacts with Europeans, military events, and contemporary life; Braun's two-color maps successfully place all these data in geographical context. Useful appendixes include a historical chronology and lists of Native American place-names and of all tribes on the continent. A bibliography of over 200 recent items helps to overcome the inevitable limitations of a single-volume reference work. Ideal for general collections and public libraries. Michael Edmonds, State Historical Soc. of Wisconsin, Madison
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
This revision of a 1985 title provides "a series of overviews for understanding the challenging subject of the American Indian, and a framework or frameworks for pursuing further historical and cultural studies." Text is accompanied by 110 black-and-white maps. According to the preface, maps are a useful way to convey Indian-related information both because of "the great" number of tribes and their movement over the centuries" and because "one's homeland is at the heart of the Native American worldview." Among the changes from the earlier edition are redrawn maps, 16 new maps (for example, "The Territory of Nunavut"), updated language (e.g.,
Inuit rather than
Eskimo ), a new glossary, an expanded bibliography, and revised lists of tribal groups and museums. Content is arranged in seven chapters, including "Ancient Indians," "Indian Lifeways," and "Contemporary Indians." The largest single section, "Indian Wars," covers the early conflicts of the Arawal (1492) through the Canadian Indian Wars in the 1870s. Each chapter is broken down into sections discussing culture, events, tribes, and individuals. Appendixes provide a chronology of prehistory and history; listings of Indian Nations; Indian place-names; and a directory of museums, historical societies, and archaeological sites. A glossary, bibliography, and index complete the volume. Canadian coverage is better than in many similar works. Several chapters have sections specific to Canada, an appendix is devoted to contemporary Canadian First Nations, and other appendixes include Canada in their listings. This book is recommended for collections needing general information, historical coverage, and material on the Canadian region. It is a good companion to Waldman's
Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes [RBB Ap 1 00] and well suited for the academic or public library.
RBBCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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