Who were the first settlers in North America? Where did they come from? How did they survive? In this expansive one-volume account of the native peoples of North America, eminent historian William Brandon—who devoted much of his life to examining this subject—presents this revelatory history of the development and culture of the native peoples of North America, from their incipience through the late nineteenth century. Among those from Central America were the art-obsessed Mayans and Olmecs; from North America came the Ojibwa, Powhatan, Cree, Illinois, Apache, Cherokee, Natchez, Sioux, and many others. In The Rise and Fall of North American Indians, Brandon brings this world to life and chronicles ten thousand years of Indian history.
Acknowledgments Part I. The Ancient Americas Chapter 1: The Dawntime Chapter 2: In the Footsteps of the Ancients Chapter 3: Art and Numbers Chapter 4: Under the Wheel of Time Chapter 5: Turmoil and Temple in Central Mexico Chapter 6: From the Toltecs to the Incas Chapter 7: Empires of the Sun Chapter 8: When Worlds Collide Chapter 9: Through the Lookinglass I Chapter 10: March of the Metal Men Chapter 11: The Plumed Serpent Chapter 12: Cornfield and Kiva Chapter 13: Blood, Gold, and Souls Part II. Heritage of the New World Chapter 14: Through the Lookinglass II Chapter 15: Serpent Mound to Tattooed Serpent Chapter 16: People of the Forest Chapter 17: Puritans and Indians Chapter 18: European Cannon Meet Longhouse Diplomacy Chapter 19: Muskets across the Mountains Chapter 20: The Road Not Taken Chapter 22: A Man for All Seasons Chapter 23: Death and Dispossession in the Heartland Chapter 24: Through the Lookinglass III Chapter 25: Under the Northern Lights Chapter 26: Golden Hills, Crimson Blood Chapter 27: From Sacajawea to Chief Joseph Chapter 28: Buffalo Indians and Pony Soldiers Chapter 29: The Last Stronghold Chapter 30: Through the Lookinglass IV Epilogue Notes Index
Eminent historian William Brandon (1914-2002) was a writer for seventy years. His fiction, poetry, and essays appeared in periodicals ranging from Black Mask to Paris Review. Brandon s books on the American West and American Indians range from The American Heritage Book of Indians to an anthology of American Indian poetry.
Reviews for The Rise and Fall of North American Indians: From Prehistory through Geronimo
One of the more well-rounded history books on the North American Indians. The book is objective and pays great attention to detail. Colorado Springs Gazette The Rise and Fall of North American Indians: From Prehistory Through Geronimo provides a scholarly account tracing the history of Native Americans from their Stone Age roots through their rise and fall to today's world. It's a sweeping and impassioned survey that tells the stories of all kinds of tribes, their encounters with white people, and the evolution of Indian-White relations that would become the blueprint for the eventual near-extinction of not just tribes, but an entire culture. Tribes chronicled here range from Mayans and Olmecs to Cree and Apache and beyond, and offers a definitive survey of the extent of tribal relationships and struggles in North America. Any collection looking for such an in-depth survey will find this reference a 'must have' addition. Midwest Book Review An eloquent and exhaustive chronicle of the history of North America's peoples. -- Brian John Murphy American History
