Encounters in the New World: A History in Documents
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Author Description
From Columbus's voyage in 1492 to the publication of the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, a former slave, in 1789, Jill Lepore, winner of the distinguished Bancroft Prize for history, brings to life in exciting, first-person detail some of the earliest events in American history in Encounters in the New World.Providing fascinating commentary along the way, Lepore seamlessly links together primary sources that illustrate the powerful clash of cultures in the Americas. Through emotional eyewitness accounts -- memoirs, petitions, diaries, captivity narratives, private correspondence -- formal documents, official reports, and journalistic reportage, dramatic stories of the New World are revealed, including:* A Jesuit priest's chronicle of life among his Iroquois captors* Aztec records of forbidding omens* John Smith's account of cannibalism among the British residents of Jamestown* Memoirs by members of Cortes's expedition* Reminiscences of an escaped slaveA special 16-page color cartographic section, including maps from both Europe and North America, provides a fascinating look at how the maps' creators saw themselves and the world around them.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the complex cultural collisions and societal transformations in the Americas from 1492 to 1789 through the lens of contemporary primary source documentation. Jill Lepore, a Bancroft Prize-winning historian, curates a collection of firsthand accounts to reconstruct the lived experiences of diverse populations during the formation of the New World. By organizing these documents chronologically, she provides a framework that allows the voices of explorers, indigenous peoples, and enslaved individuals to articulate the tensions of early American history without modern mediation.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological survey of American history spanning from the arrival of Columbus to the late 18th century.
- A diverse collection of primary source materials including diaries, captivity narratives, petitions, and official reports.
- A specialized 16-page color cartographic section analyzing historical maps from both European and North American perspectives.
- Contextual commentary that bridges the gap between disparate cultural viewpoints and historical events.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and educators frequently cite this volume as an effective pedagogical tool for introducing students to the practice of historical analysis through primary sources. Readers note that the text maintains high academic standards while remaining accessible to a general audience interested in the foundational narratives of the Americas.
Page Count:
176
Publication Date:
2002-04-04
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195154916
ISBN-13:
9780195154917
History
Non-Fiction
Colonial History
American History
America history
North America
Primary Sources
United States
