1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus is a groundbreaking work of science, history, and archaeology by Charles C. Mann. This transformative book radically alters our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.

Contrary to the common belief that pre-Columbian Indians were sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness, Mann reveals that there were vast numbers of Indians who actively shaped and influenced the land around them. The astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan boasted running water and immaculately clean streets, surpassing any contemporary European city in size and sophistication.

Mexican cultures achieved remarkable feats, such as the creation of corn through a specialized breeding process, often referred to as man's first feat of genetic engineering. Indeed, Indians were not living lightly on the land; they were landscaping and manipulating their world in ways that are only now being understood.

This book challenges and surprises readers, offering a transformative new look at a rich and fascinating world we only thought we knew.