Ben Waber reviewed Native Nations by Kathleen DuVal
A Riveting Deep Dive into Native American History
5 stars
DuVal delivers an incredible deep dive into a number of Native American nations over the centuries, using these examples to situate broader historical trends and political dynamics. The focus here is mostly on pre-Civil War history, and the incredible detail provided on particular nations means some aren't covered (I would absolutely love a sequel that spends more time in Pennsylvania and New England). It's hard to overemphasize how revelatory this history is, with the chapter on the Mohawk and the fascinating activity around Fort Orange (now Albany) being particularly striking, demonstrating how the Haudenosaunee's rapidly growing economic power drove weapon and clothing design in Europe and colonist bakery product consumption. This book is a must read. Highly recommend
