Natives and Newcomers: The Cultural Origins of North America

Natives and Newcomers describes the major encounters between Indians and Europeans -- first contacts, communications, epidemics, trade and gift-giving, social and sexual mingling, work, conversions, military clashes -- and probes the short- and long-term consequences for both cultures. The end result is an accessible and often witty book which shows how encounters between Indians and Europeans ultimately shaped a distinctly American identity.