The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus

Jones, George, 1810-1879Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.2

Word count: 707K words
Chapters: 71

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus by George JonesAuthor: Jones, George, 1810-1879,Language: English, Class: E011: History: America: America, Release Date: Apr 7, 2013

Editor's review

This book is George Jones's investigative work on the history of the Americas before Columbus, representing one voice in early American historical scholarship. Its value lies first in its significance as a sample of sources and ideas: the author attempts to discuss earlier inhabitants, civilizations, and possible transoceanic contacts of the American continent beyond the traditional narrative that begins with European arrival, reflecting how nineteenth-century scholars thought when confronted with archaeological discoveries and classical texts. Reading this book requires a conscious awareness of historiography: several inferences rest on the limited archaeological material and textual analogies of the time, and some conclusions have been revised or superseded by later research. It is therefore better suited as reading for understanding the trajectory of research on ancient American history and observing early historical writing methods, rather than as an introductory book for obtaining the latest research conclusions. The prose carries the expansive style of Victorian academic writing, with meticulous argumentation but a slower pace, suitable for patient readers proceeding chapter by chapter alongside modern general histories for comparison.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Historical enthusiasts interested in ancient American civilizations and pre-Columbian history
Scholars and students studying historiography and early methods of writing American history
Readers who wish to understand how nineteenth-century scholars argued for transoceanic contacts
Those who are patient with long-form argumentation and willing to read alongside modern research

Not a good fit for

Beginning readers seeking the latest archaeological conclusions and authoritative general history overviews
Readers who prefer light narrative and lack patience for lengthy textual criticism
Primary and secondary school students who need a strict distinction between discredited inferences and reliable historical facts

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and introduction first to clarify the author's argumentative framework, then proceed chapter by chapter to avoid getting lost in details.
Prepare a modern general history of ancient America for comparison and mark inferences that have been revised by later scholarship.
While reading, distinguish among "historical records," "author's inferences," and "later consensus," and take three types of notes.
For key arguments involving transoceanic contacts, consult relevant research reviews after reading before making judgments.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Are the conclusions of this book still credible today?

Some inferences rest on the limited archaeological material and textual analogies of the nineteenth century, and later research has revised or even rejected many specific conclusions. Readers should treat it as historiographical material for understanding how early scholars posed questions and argued, rather than directly citing it as the latest research findings.

What background knowledge is required?

It is advisable to have a basic outline of ancient American civilizations, such as the major cultures of Mesoamerica and the Andes, and to understand the general background of Columbus's voyages. Some familiarity with classical texts and early archaeological discoveries would make reading smoother but is not essential, as key concepts are generally explained in the text.

Why is it worth reading a book whose conclusions may be outdated?

Its value lies in showing how questions were posed, how evidence was organized, and how inferences were formed. Understanding the approaches and limitations of early research helps explain why today's study of ancient American history emphasizes archaeological evidence and interdisciplinary methods, and it cultivates a cautious reading habit toward historical writing.

How difficult is the original English text?

This is nineteenth-century academic writing with long sentences, numerous citations, and formal vocabulary, making it more difficult than ordinary popular reading. It is advisable to read the introduction and conclusion first to grasp the main thesis, then closely read chapters related to one's interests, parsing long sentences by structure before interpreting them, without forcing a rapid read-through.

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About the author

Jones, George, 1810-1879 Author · 1810–1879

George Jones (1810–1879) was a nineteenth-century historian and writer whose biographical details are scarce in publicly available sources. Only one of his works is held in this collection: The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus. The book focuses on the ancient civilizations and history of the American continent before Columbus's arrival, and is one of the early European scholarly attempts to give a systematic account of pre-Columbian America. Judging from the surviving bibliographic information, Jones's research interest lay in the early stages of ancient American history, and his writing shows the typical features of nineteenth-century historiography, emphasizing the arrangement and narration of ancient remains, indigenous traditions, and early documents. The work offers a reference point for understanding how European scholarship viewed pre-Columbian America, and reflects both the scope and the limitations of historical writing in his time.