How Is The Estimation Used In 1491 By Charles Mann

Most students recognize the classic rhyme: “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. This simple and catchy phrase intends to help students memorize the year of the so called beginning of modern life on the American continent. While seemingly innocuous, this rhyme actually reflects a deep eurocentric misunderstanding in modern society. The classic misunderstanding propagates that Columbus landed on virgin wilderness in 1492 and proceeded to easily spread European customs and wisdom onto the primitive indigenous people of that land. In his book 1491, Charles Mann challenges the conventional wisdom of Columbus’s “discovery” of America. Mann correctly argues that Columbus did not land on an empty continent of a few barbaric natives, but on a

High counters, like Henry Dobyns, estimated that between “90 and 120 million people” (Mann, 108) lived on the continent. Lower estimates hover around 20 million people. Like all bits of history, deep political implication embed themselves in the estimation of the population of America. Mann writes that he sides with the higher estimation. Although low counter argue that high estimates are based on inconclusive data, Mann’s estimation represents an important shift in the understanding of the history of the continent. As ethnologist Lenore Stiffarm says, “The smaller the number of indians...the easier it is to regard the continent as empty, and hence up for grabs” (Mann, 109). Even though the estimation may not be based on pure scientific extrapolation, the conclusion creates an important political statement that it justifies the imperfect method. By recognizing that dense societies populated the continent, historians legitimize the legacy of native people and their push for contemporary political

Although shocking to the classically educated student’s ear, Mann defends his claim with careful historical analysis of the epidemics and specific political decision made by indigenous societies that led to the European conquest. The eurocentric version of history teaches students that native people never stood a chance against Europe’s far superior technology and warfare strategy. In reality, “Europeans routinely lost when they could not take advantage of disease and political fragmentation” (Mann ,104). Mann also explains that Europe’s clunky guns and small armies did not lead to inevitable success. In truth, tiny microbes gave Europeans the upper hand. Smallpox and measles successfully wiped out majorities of native populations creating a much easier path to victory for the Europeans. But not just disease ensured victory for the Europeans. Poor political decisions and societal hierarchy within native societies contributed to their own