160. Native Nations vs Thomas Jefferson

In this comprehensive history, Kathleen DuVal reframes North American history by centering Indigenous power and sovereignty. The book spans a millennium, from the rise of ancient cities to the present day, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Native nations. DuVal challenges traditional narratives by showing that Native Americans were empowered agents who managed complex political, social, and economic matters, often outmatching their European counterparts. The book covers various Native nations, such as the Mohawks, Quapaws, Shawnees, and Cherokees, and their interactions with European colonizers, emphasizing their continued influence and sovereignty despite historical challenges.

This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging fundamental assumptions about social evolution, the development of agriculture, cities, the state, democracy, and inequality. Graeber and Wengrow argue that traditional theories of human history, such as those posited by Hobbes and Rousseau, are not supported by anthropological or archaeological evidence. Instead, they show that humans have lived in large, complex, but decentralized societies for millennia, often without ruling elites or hierarchical systems. The authors draw on extensive research in archaeology and anthropology to reveal a history that is more varied and hopeful than previously assumed, emphasizing human experimentation with different social arrangements and the potential for new forms of freedom and societal organization.