American Colonies

In this revelatory new book Alan Taylor challenges the traditional focus of colonial history by exploring the multitude of cultural influences out of which "America" ultimately emerged. From the Siberian migrations across the Bering Srait fifteen thousand years ago and the European expeditions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Taylor traces the complex ecological, ethnic and economic history of the New World from coast to coast, from the Canadian north to the Pacific rim.

Examining the repeatedly overlooked influence of the continent's natives upon the colonists and the resulting mutual dependence of the two, Taylor presents a unique, fascinating panorama. European colonists, African slaves and native peoples met each other and interacted at a pace and intensity unparalleled in global history. The effects of this staggering confluence of cultural, ecological, military, diplomatic and economic interests are still being felt today.