The Red Man's Continent: A Chronicle of Aboriginal America

Chronicles of America #1

by Ellsworth Huntington

In writing this book the author has aimed first to present in readable form the main facts about the geographical environment of American history. Many important facts have been omitted or have been touched upon only lightly because they are generally familiar. On the other hand, special stress has been laid on certain broad phases of geography which are comparatively unfamiliar. One of these is the similarity of form between the Old World and the New, and between North and South America; another is the distribution of indigenous types of vegetation in North America; and a third is the relation of climate to health and energy. In addition to these subjects, the influence of geographical conditions upon the life of the primitive Indians has been emphasized. This factor is especially important because people without iron tools and beasts of burden, and without any cereal crops except corn, must respond to their environment very differently from civilized people of today. Limits of space and the desire to make this book readable have led to the omission of the detailed proof of some of the conclusions here set forth. The special student will recognize such cases and will not judge them until he has read the author's fuller statements elsewhere. The general reader, for whom this book is designed, will be thankful for the omission of such purely technical details.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

183 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

Professor of Geography, Yale University, 1907+.

Reviews

[Clayton P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well written portrait of the so called new world, this first volume of the Chronicles series dedicates a very large portion of itself to a vivid description of the environments and geographical character of the American continent. While very interesting and exhaustive, it can begin to be a bit outdated, even going so far as to rely on the now ludicrously outdated "Tetrahedron Theory". The representations and profiles the author creates of the native inhabitants are also, unfortunately, starkly outdated and enthocentric. The sometimes even discriminatory remarks are not the result of any derogatory views held by the author, they are simply put forth as they were believed at this time. The author does indeed present a true representation of the overarching paradigms of the day, both geographical and racially. The end result is a book that stands as a great study of the beliefs of nearly a century ago, but does that not stand well as a scientific or historical account to be relied upon today.

[Zaiga · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for quality entertainment, obviously not for accuracy of content, or sensitivity to diversity. It is available on Googlebooks. I highly recommend at least reading the introduction. Priceless!

http://books.google.com/books?id=19A9...

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly about geography and climate with the last chapter of 5 about the Red Man of the title. I was expecting more about Indians, but got interested in the geography as I listened.

A couple of reviews chide the writer on an outdated theory. I enjoyed listening to the facts that led up to this theory and to see how scientific minds fit these facts together. I also wonder, often and with much of my reading, what "settled science" future generations will deride us for.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning and ending sections have some useful and interesting information and description on Indian societies, but the intervening chapters are either woefully boring or filled with outdated theories such as the tetrahedron.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book, as it was written in 1919. You can find out the odd ways people thought about world evolution, and the lifestyles of the First Peoples in the western hemisphere.