1491

1491 challenges the conventional narrative of the Americas as a vast, untouched wilderness prior to European colonization. How did the Indigenous peoples of the Americas interact with and modify their environment, and what does this reveal about The Pristine Wilderness Myth? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• In what ways did the activities of pre-Columbian societies challenge the idea of the Americas as a “pristine wilderness”?
• Analyze the impact of Indigenous groups’ land management and engineering feats. What do these reveal about Indigenous groups’ understanding of and relationship with the environment?
• How does Mann illustrate the complexity and diversity of agricultural and environmental practices among different Indigenous groups?
• How does understanding the environmental impact of these societies change our perception of what constitutes a “natural” environment?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be beneficial to introduce the prompt with a visual component. Students could examine images of the Americas to decide whether the images support or challenge The Pristine Wilderness Myth, then explain their reasoning. These images could be sourced directly from the book, depending on the edition.