1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

"1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus" is a non-fiction book written by Charles C. Mann, first published in 2005. The book is a history of the Americas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. The author examines new research and evidence that challenges the traditional narrative of the Americas as a sparsely populated and technologically primitive land before the arrival of Europeans. The book covers various aspects of pre-Columbian cultures, including population, agriculture, urbanization, technology, and human impact on the environment.

The book has been widely praised for its original research, engaging writing style, and its ability to challenge the traditional narrative of pre-Columbian America. Mann's book is based on a wide range of academic research, archaeology, and scientific study. It has been widely used in both high school and college courses, and has been translated into several languages. The book has been praised for its ability to bring to light new information and perspectives on the pre-Columbian Americas, but has also been criticized for some of the author's interpretations of the data and for not providing a comprehensive history of all pre-Columbian cultures.