This history of Native Americans, from the period of first contactto the present day, offers an important variation to existingstudies by placing the lives and experiences of Native Americancommunities at the center of the narrative. Presents an innovative approach to Native American history byplacing individual native communities and their experiences at thecenter of the study Following a first chapter that deals with creation myths, theremainder of the narrative is structured chronologically, coveringover 600 years from the point of first contact to the presentday Illustrates the great diversity in American Indian culture andemphasizes the importance of Native Americans in the history ofNorth America Provides an excellent survey for courses in Native Americanhistory Includes maps, photographs, a timeline, questions fordiscussion, and “A Closer Focus” textboxes that providebiographies of individuals and that elaborate on the text, exposing students to issues of race, class, and gender

This text provides students and instructors with an account of the American past in which no single approach or theme predominates. The text has included an account of American political and diplomatic history. Today, however, the book explores areas of history such as social, cultural, urban, racial and ethnic history, more history of the West and South, environmental history, and the history of women and gender. In addition, American history has not evolved in a vacuum, but as part of a larger global world. This text places American history into that global context, making connections for students who live in an ever-expanding world themselves.