8.26.2013
1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
by Charles C. Mann, 408 pgs, hardcoverSequel to 1491
Overall Grade: A-
Impressively readable. Mann spins a collective work looking at some of the genetic, racial, economic, agriculture and health changes and connections that grew in the years, decades and centuries after Columbus' first visit to the Americas. How quickly the desire for wealth led to trade connections between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas! Lots of interesting chapters on topics ranging from the potato and its introduction to Europe to malaria and yellow fever to the Spanish silver mines in South America. Speaking of the latter, you may know that these mines were the key to the wealth of the Spanish empire after they gained a foothold in the Americas, but did you know that perhaps up to 90% of that silver actually went to China, via the Philippines? It was China that desperately needed the silver for their currency, and the silk, porcelain and other goods they'd trade for it were what mostly got sent back to Spain and thence Europe. It's tidbits like this that make this book worth reading.
Labels: genre: biographical, genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, genre: science, genre: social science, media: book
