查爾斯·曼恩 Books

This groundbreaking study radically alters our understanding of the Americas prior to European arrival in 1492. Traditionally, it was believed that the ancestors of the Western Hemisphere's inhabitants crossed the Bering Strait twelve thousand years ago, lived in small, nomadic bands, and left the land largely untouched. However, recent research by archaeologists and anthropologists has challenged these long-held assumptions. The author reveals that, by 1491, the Americas likely had a population greater than that of Europe, with cities like Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, surpassing contemporary European urban centers in size and sophistication. Tenochtitlán boasted running water, botanical gardens, and clean streets, distinguishing it from European capitals of the time. Remarkably, the earliest cities in the Americas thrived long before the Egyptians constructed their pyramids. Pre-Columbian Indians in Mexico achieved advanced genetic engineering in corn cultivation, while Amazonian tribes developed sustainable farming techniques that are now being studied for their potential benefits. Native Americans transformed their landscapes extensively, creating a "landscaped" hemisphere by the time Europeans arrived. This work sheds light on the methods behind these revelations and their implications for our understanding of history and environmental thinking, presenting an exciting account of scientific inquiry.