Agema Publications

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Agema Publications

A forum for the disscussion of the Play by Mail games from Agema Publications


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    1491 - The Book

    Deacon
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    1491 - The Book Empty 1491 - The Book

    Post by Deacon Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:43 pm

    I'm reading this book (well, on audio, like too many Americans, I have a fair drive to work.) It tries to cover the history of the Americas pre-contact.

    It suffers from the typical flaws of a journalist writing about science, but it is very eye opening about how much culture was here before first contact, and exactly how/why first contact played out the way it did. (spoiler: small pox and other European originated plagues brought many of the cultures to their knees before europeans arrived to conquer.)

    I thought the bits about the origins of agriculture and how many crops we take for granted these days were all domesticated in meso and south america.

    90% of the worldwide cotton crop, for instance, derives from the species domesticated in Mexico.
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    1491 - The Book Empty Re: 1491 - The Book

    Post by Guest Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:39 pm

    Sounds a fascinating book, possibly a useful companion to Jared Diamond's books?
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    1491 - The Book Empty Re: 1491 - The Book

    Post by Deacon Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:28 pm


    Yes, I know Diamond has his critics, but I've found his books insightful.
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    1491 - The Book Empty Re: 1491 - The Book

    Post by J Flower Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:36 am

    Always seems interesting that "Civilisation & Dicovery" date from first European contact with the natives. As if all that went before isn't worth considering
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    1491 - The Book Empty Re: 1491 - The Book

    Post by Guest Sun Mar 18, 2018 2:19 pm

    Know a few who are quite critical of Diamond's work but yes I liked it Smile

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