This book presented facts contrary to American popular beliefs and myths. I did remember learning about Spanish expeditions to the new world, but nowhere did I read of settlements lasting more than a few months. To think of all the turkeys, pumpkin pies and sweet potatoes I ate during the few Thanksgivings during my college years, it might be symbolic of the first difficult winter the pilgrim fathers experienced or it might not be.
What was shocking was the huge mounds left by wealthy agricultural societies in the middle part of USA exceeded that of medieval London or Paris, or any city north of Mexico until Philadelphia surpassed it in 1700s. (page 233) All it took was two groups of Spanish forward parties bringing diseases as well as wholesale slaughter to reduce that sort of civilizations to small villages and tribal groups roaming the plains that the British settlers found later.
Although there are people in my country that hold it against the British for colonizing us, I suppose we are much, much better off than the American Indians. The British shipped away tin and rubber, but they did leave us an excellent colonial government and a good education system.
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