Publisher's Synopsis
South America is perhaps the most isolated and untouched continent in the world. With only twelve countries, a rugged geography, and a small population, the continent is often neglected when it comes to world politics or history and instead mystified because of its untouched lands, unique cultures, and large biodiversity. Yet despite this neglect, the pages of South American history are extremely rich both before European arrival with the indigenous peoples and well after as the continent cradled unique infant nations. Between the twelve independent countries that make up the region today and the 20,000 years of human history spread out across its vast jungles and plains, this book is a snapshot of that history. In just a few pages, the complete story of every South American country is overviewed from the very first peoples to inhabit them up to our modern world and the influences of current events.
Whether you're looking for certain information on specific countries or just curious in a general read of South America's greater history, this book is perfect for you. It fits in an extraordinary amount within a few hundred pages - everything from the ancient Incas and first European explorers to Cold War coups and decolonization - and reads like a good novel. Certainly a must read if you're curious about South American history.
