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American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World
For four hundred yearsfrom the first Spanish assaults against the Arawak people of Hispaniola in the 1490s to the U.S. Army's massacre of Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee in the 1890sthe indigenous inhabitants of North and South America endured an unending firestorm of violence. During that time the native population of the Western Hemisphere declined by as many as 100 million people. Indeed, as historian David E. Stannard argues in this stunning new book, the European and white American destruction of the native peoples of the Americas was the most massive act of genocide in the history of the world.
Stannard begins with a portrait of the enormous richness and diversity of life in the Americas prior to Columbus's fateful voyage in 1492. He then follows the path of genocide from the Indies to Mexico and Central and South America, then north to Florida, Virginia, and New England, and finally out across the Great Plains and Southwest to California and the North Pacific Coast. Stannard reveals that wherever Europeans or white Americans went, the native people were caught between imported plagues and barbarous atrocities, typically resulting in the annihilation of 95 percent of their populations. What kind of people, he asks, do such horrendous things to others? His highly provocative answer: Christians. Digging deeply into ancient European and Christian attitudes toward sex, race, and war, he finds the cultural ground well prepared by the end of the Middle Ages for the centuries-long genocide campaign that Europeans and their descendants launchedand in places continue to wageagainst the New World's original inhabitants. Advancing a thesis that is sure to create much controversy, Stannard contends that the perpetrators of the American Holocaust drew on the same ideological wellspring as did the later architects of the Nazi Holocaust. It is an ideology that remains dangerously alive today, he adds, and one that in recent years has surfaced in American justifications for large-scale military intervention in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
At once sweeping in scope and meticulously detailed, American Holocaust is a work of impassioned scholarship that is certain to ignite intense historical and moral debate.
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First published January 1, 1992
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October 12, 2015
THE HOLOCAUST IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
David Stannard's "American Holocaust", aptly published during the ahistorical hoo-hah that marked the 500th year since Columbus "discovered" the Americas, takes as its subject the genocidal destruction of the Native Americans in north, south and central America in the aftermath of the western European invasion.
The book is split into three parts, the first and shortest of which provides remarkable insight into the great variety of indigenous peoples that populated the continent on the eve of being invaded by the Europeans. The second part is a description of various atrocities that occurred subsequent to 1492, by the Spannish and English, and the devestating effect of European diseases on the indigenous population. The final part looks into what it was, within European culture, religion and institutions that allowed, condoned, celebrated and facilitated this genocide; comparison is also made with future genocides, and its hardly a suprise to learn that Hitler was an admirer of what the British and subsequently the United States achieved vis-a-vis the Native Americans, and referred to Jews, Slavs and others he was slaughtering on a industrial scale at industrial speed as "Red Indians".
Overall "American Holocaust" is a remarkable achievement; it's well researched, well written and with particular regard to the third part, well argued. The picture of the numerous vibrant and vital human societies in the Americas pre-1492 is vividly presented to the reader. Stannard deals with the question of the diseases the Europeans inadvertently brought with them (though eventually a few enterprising pioneers of Biological warfare hit on the idea of giving Native Americans blankets which had previously been used by small pox victims) for which Native Americans had no immunity. My own feeling is that apologists for the American Holocaust use this as an alibi for the genocide- it just kinda happened... nothing to do with me mate. Stannard cites ample evidence that the good Christians from Europe viewed it as a gift from God that aided their efforts to colonise the Americas; for some Spanish Catholics (perhaps because they needed Indians for labour in the gold and silver mines, the largest of which at Potosì was the Auschwitz of its day) losing their indigenous labourers was viewed as a punishment from God for their own religious shortcomings! But the colonisers didn't just view the diseases that carried away millions upon millions of the Natives as a gift. The hostility, violence, massacres, displacement and brutal labouring conditions that they visited upon the Natives increased the already appaling death rate, and even those Native groups left undisturbed to recover from the deadly European diseases were subsequently destroyed and displaced by European violence alone.
A short review can hardly give a sense of the scope and quality of this work that I'd thoroughly recommend reading, especially by those who are sceptical or even offended by the use of the term Holocaust for other victims apart from the Jews (and Slavs, gypsies, etc) subjected to the horrific and murderous extermination policies of the Nazis during World War 2.
Other books of interest would include Dee Browns classic history of the United States late 19th century war against the Great Plains Indians "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee"; Ronald Wrights "Stolen Continents" focuses on telling the story of several communities of Native Americans and their confrontations with the Europeans at specific points in time during the five centuries after 1492. For anyone wishing to go off on a slight tangent Domenico Losurdo's "Liberalism: A Counter History" shows the dark side of Liberalism, and more than a few Liberals were cheerleaders for the genocide against Native Americans.
David Stannard's "American Holocaust", aptly published during the ahistorical hoo-hah that marked the 500th year since Columbus "discovered" the Americas, takes as its subject the genocidal destruction of the Native Americans in north, south and central America in the aftermath of the western European invasion.
The book is split into three parts, the first and shortest of which provides remarkable insight into the great variety of indigenous peoples that populated the continent on the eve of being invaded by the Europeans. The second part is a description of various atrocities that occurred subsequent to 1492, by the Spannish and English, and the devestating effect of European diseases on the indigenous population. The final part looks into what it was, within European culture, religion and institutions that allowed, condoned, celebrated and facilitated this genocide; comparison is also made with future genocides, and its hardly a suprise to learn that Hitler was an admirer of what the British and subsequently the United States achieved vis-a-vis the Native Americans, and referred to Jews, Slavs and others he was slaughtering on a industrial scale at industrial speed as "Red Indians".
Overall "American Holocaust" is a remarkable achievement; it's well researched, well written and with particular regard to the third part, well argued. The picture of the numerous vibrant and vital human societies in the Americas pre-1492 is vividly presented to the reader. Stannard deals with the question of the diseases the Europeans inadvertently brought with them (though eventually a few enterprising pioneers of Biological warfare hit on the idea of giving Native Americans blankets which had previously been used by small pox victims) for which Native Americans had no immunity. My own feeling is that apologists for the American Holocaust use this as an alibi for the genocide- it just kinda happened... nothing to do with me mate. Stannard cites ample evidence that the good Christians from Europe viewed it as a gift from God that aided their efforts to colonise the Americas; for some Spanish Catholics (perhaps because they needed Indians for labour in the gold and silver mines, the largest of which at Potosì was the Auschwitz of its day) losing their indigenous labourers was viewed as a punishment from God for their own religious shortcomings! But the colonisers didn't just view the diseases that carried away millions upon millions of the Natives as a gift. The hostility, violence, massacres, displacement and brutal labouring conditions that they visited upon the Natives increased the already appaling death rate, and even those Native groups left undisturbed to recover from the deadly European diseases were subsequently destroyed and displaced by European violence alone.
A short review can hardly give a sense of the scope and quality of this work that I'd thoroughly recommend reading, especially by those who are sceptical or even offended by the use of the term Holocaust for other victims apart from the Jews (and Slavs, gypsies, etc) subjected to the horrific and murderous extermination policies of the Nazis during World War 2.
Other books of interest would include Dee Browns classic history of the United States late 19th century war against the Great Plains Indians "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee"; Ronald Wrights "Stolen Continents" focuses on telling the story of several communities of Native Americans and their confrontations with the Europeans at specific points in time during the five centuries after 1492. For anyone wishing to go off on a slight tangent Domenico Losurdo's "Liberalism: A Counter History" shows the dark side of Liberalism, and more than a few Liberals were cheerleaders for the genocide against Native Americans.
April 10, 2011
Don't know how I could possible express in a few words, this books effect on me. It's a not like any holocaust that ever happened since. You won't find this in your high school history books, because it's too gruesome.
April 22, 2013
This book will open your eyes to the atrocities done to Native Americans from 1492 to the present. The conquerers of North and South America brutally carried out genocide on the native people in the name of God and the search for gold. In the course of five hundred years, 95 percent of the Native American population was dead (over 100 million people mudered). Every school should have to teach this book to children alonside with the first Thanksgiving to give some much needed perspective. I wasn't even involved with these horrible acts of cruelty, but as a white person I can feel the blood on my hands nonetheless.
June 28, 2010
The tale of not just who discovered and conquered America, but how they did it. A story of extreme violence, genocide, and biological warfare perpetretated against people because they occupied a land the Europeans wanted. Tons of references and some lithographs of the conquerers in action. Letters from witnesses. Not for the squeamish.
January 14, 2018
In his Prologue, Stannard points out that ever since the Columbian land fall, there has been a prevailing blissful ignorance of the genocidal extermination of Indian peoples in America. By focusing on the ravages of European diseases, the blame is taken off of the perpetrators of this horrible crime. His book will be a necessary corrective. Divided in two basic parts, the book carries forward the arguments made by Francis Jennings approximately one quarter century earlier. The first part of the book, in sections called "Before Columbus" and "Pestilence and Genocide," deals with the native world that Europeans encountered and the devastation that the unleashed upon the natives. The second division, encompassing the section entitled "Sex, Race and Holy War," deals with the elements in Christianity which fed the ideology of genocide and made possible this horrifying history. Interspersed in the sections are starkly contrasting photo galleries of "Native Peoples" and "Genocide". The former shows the diversity and beauty of the native people and the second shows the carnage visited upon them by the European "Civilizers". Here, I will focus here on the first two sections of the book.
Part I: Before Columbus
Chapter 1
Stannard opens his first chapter with an account of the cities of the Aztec empire before their conquest by Cortez. The conquistadors themselves marveled at the feats of engineering performed by the natives, their cleanliness and the health of the population. All this was soon to be destroyed.
After a brief discussion of Berengia and the assumed origins of native populations in this hemisphere, he gives a nod to the diversity of native peoples and then turns his ire against Oscar Handlin and Bernard Bailyn for their ethnocentrism. Recognizing his debt to Francis Jennings, he ends the chapter with a note on Jennings' demographic demographic revelations and a tilt of the hat to Edward Said's critique of Orientalism.
Chapter 2
In an introductory account that covers the pre-contact Indians that ranges from a treatment of Mississippian to Anasazi cultures and up to California, Stannard impresses the reader with the diversity of native civilizations. He is also at pains to show how "advanced" Indian civilizations were in their child rearing techniques and in the empowerment of women. He then moves south to Mesoamerica and recounts the history of Mayans and later Aztecs. Next in line are the great accomplishments of Incan civilization and finally a discussion of the Arawaks of Northern Brazil, which provides a lead in to the discussion of the Arawaks of Hispaniola, which Columbus encountered on his voyages. In concluding his account, Stannard wants to strike a note of balance. He insists that it would be wrong to idealize the native populations, for they did indeed perform human sacrifices and in some cases practice ritualistic cannibalism. But, we must keep in mind the brutality of Medieval and even Reformation and Renaissance Europe.
Pestilence and Genocide
Chapter 3
Relying largely upon the work of Lawrence Stone regarding conditions in Early Modern Europe, Stannard paints a horrific picture of life in Europe at the time when Columbus sailed for the Indies. Dirty, disease and crime ridden and full of class antagonisms, the cities of Europe were breeding grounds for the plagues. Poverty, starvation and warfare were the lot of many and wealth the lot of a very few. Great quote on p. 58!
From the perspective of this world, it is not surprising that Columbus and other explorers viewed this "new" world as a paradise of edenic proportions. When combined with their massive greed, the belief that the peoples of these regions were savages lead the explorers to commit atrocities of gargantuan proportions. This all began with Columbus kidnapping Arawaks and taking them back to Europe as slaves. Most died on the way.
With the second voyage of Columbus, the true conquest began. Columbus himself soon fell ill, but his troops committed huge atrocities. Forcing the natives to hunt for gold and cutting off their hands if they returned with any. Las Casas recorded sickening scenes of wanton cruelty. Failing to find gold, the Iberians instead set up encomienda plantations on Hispaniola and enslaved the natives to provide a labor force. By 1535, the native population (which at 1492 may have numbered as many as 8 million) had been exterminated.
Next he recounts Cortez's conquest of the Aztec's city of Tenochtitlan. Tricking Montezuma into believing they came in peace, Cortez and his soldier's killed the ruler and attacked the city. Though initially driven out of the city, they regrouped and attacked again. By this time smallpox was taking its toll. The fighting, dubbed pacification, went on for months. Once the city was taken, the cruelties and depredations did not cease. Survivors were made into slaves and the city was burned and all the gold looted. The same pattern of behavior was repeated throughout Mesoamerica.
Moving further south to the kingdom of the Incas, the Conquistadors continued their search for gold and other precious metals. Some were enslaved to work as beasts of burden as the Spaniards pushed into the Amazon in search of the gold of Eldorado, while others were forced to labor in the Andean silver mines. In these regions, as with that north of the Rio Grande, Stannard points to an overall population reduction of 90-95%.
Chapter 4
In this chapter, Stannard takes on the Black Legend. He shows that the barbarity and cruelty of other Europeans was as bad as the Spaniards. Turning first to the English in Virginia, he recounts the ways in which the members of the new Jamestown colony made war on the local Indians, destroying men, women and children. Describing the differences between the ceremonial warfare of the Indians, with its limited casualties, and the total warfare of the Europeans, he then turns to the examples of New England's Puritan leaders warfare with the local Indians, first on Block Island to avenge John Oldham's murder and then in a war declared on the Pequots. The Pequot War witnessed the massacre of women and children and the virtual obliteration of the Pequot tribe. The Pequot War was followed shortly thereafter by King Philip's War in 1675-6, in which thousands of Indians were killed, their crops and villages burned to the ground.
Stannard argues that by targeting women and children, the Europeans were conducting genocidal warfare. He follows this charge up with discussion of the Cherokee Wars in the American Southeast, which were eventually followed up by Cherokee Removal west of the Mississippi. This was the "Trail of Tears" which Stannard refers to as a "death march." Then came the massacre of the Lakota people at Wounded Knee, South Dakota and the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado. Colonel Chivington, commander at the Sand Creek Massacre, was the subject of an inquiry from the federal government - but nothing came of it. Indeed, Teddy Roosevelt was to speak approvingly of the Sand Creek Massacre calling it a "righteous" and "beneficial" deed. The story of California's Indians proves instructive in denying the Black Legend. Spanish missions were cruel and inhuman places, but so too were the settlements set up by the U.S. once California became a US possession. Indians we hunted down, killed or sold into slavery with government sanction. The carnage finally began to slow down in California as the 19th C wore on. There was simply no one left to kill.
Part I: Before Columbus
Chapter 1
Stannard opens his first chapter with an account of the cities of the Aztec empire before their conquest by Cortez. The conquistadors themselves marveled at the feats of engineering performed by the natives, their cleanliness and the health of the population. All this was soon to be destroyed.
After a brief discussion of Berengia and the assumed origins of native populations in this hemisphere, he gives a nod to the diversity of native peoples and then turns his ire against Oscar Handlin and Bernard Bailyn for their ethnocentrism. Recognizing his debt to Francis Jennings, he ends the chapter with a note on Jennings' demographic demographic revelations and a tilt of the hat to Edward Said's critique of Orientalism.
Chapter 2
In an introductory account that covers the pre-contact Indians that ranges from a treatment of Mississippian to Anasazi cultures and up to California, Stannard impresses the reader with the diversity of native civilizations. He is also at pains to show how "advanced" Indian civilizations were in their child rearing techniques and in the empowerment of women. He then moves south to Mesoamerica and recounts the history of Mayans and later Aztecs. Next in line are the great accomplishments of Incan civilization and finally a discussion of the Arawaks of Northern Brazil, which provides a lead in to the discussion of the Arawaks of Hispaniola, which Columbus encountered on his voyages. In concluding his account, Stannard wants to strike a note of balance. He insists that it would be wrong to idealize the native populations, for they did indeed perform human sacrifices and in some cases practice ritualistic cannibalism. But, we must keep in mind the brutality of Medieval and even Reformation and Renaissance Europe.
Pestilence and Genocide
Chapter 3
Relying largely upon the work of Lawrence Stone regarding conditions in Early Modern Europe, Stannard paints a horrific picture of life in Europe at the time when Columbus sailed for the Indies. Dirty, disease and crime ridden and full of class antagonisms, the cities of Europe were breeding grounds for the plagues. Poverty, starvation and warfare were the lot of many and wealth the lot of a very few. Great quote on p. 58!
From the perspective of this world, it is not surprising that Columbus and other explorers viewed this "new" world as a paradise of edenic proportions. When combined with their massive greed, the belief that the peoples of these regions were savages lead the explorers to commit atrocities of gargantuan proportions. This all began with Columbus kidnapping Arawaks and taking them back to Europe as slaves. Most died on the way.
With the second voyage of Columbus, the true conquest began. Columbus himself soon fell ill, but his troops committed huge atrocities. Forcing the natives to hunt for gold and cutting off their hands if they returned with any. Las Casas recorded sickening scenes of wanton cruelty. Failing to find gold, the Iberians instead set up encomienda plantations on Hispaniola and enslaved the natives to provide a labor force. By 1535, the native population (which at 1492 may have numbered as many as 8 million) had been exterminated.
Next he recounts Cortez's conquest of the Aztec's city of Tenochtitlan. Tricking Montezuma into believing they came in peace, Cortez and his soldier's killed the ruler and attacked the city. Though initially driven out of the city, they regrouped and attacked again. By this time smallpox was taking its toll. The fighting, dubbed pacification, went on for months. Once the city was taken, the cruelties and depredations did not cease. Survivors were made into slaves and the city was burned and all the gold looted. The same pattern of behavior was repeated throughout Mesoamerica.
Moving further south to the kingdom of the Incas, the Conquistadors continued their search for gold and other precious metals. Some were enslaved to work as beasts of burden as the Spaniards pushed into the Amazon in search of the gold of Eldorado, while others were forced to labor in the Andean silver mines. In these regions, as with that north of the Rio Grande, Stannard points to an overall population reduction of 90-95%.
Chapter 4
In this chapter, Stannard takes on the Black Legend. He shows that the barbarity and cruelty of other Europeans was as bad as the Spaniards. Turning first to the English in Virginia, he recounts the ways in which the members of the new Jamestown colony made war on the local Indians, destroying men, women and children. Describing the differences between the ceremonial warfare of the Indians, with its limited casualties, and the total warfare of the Europeans, he then turns to the examples of New England's Puritan leaders warfare with the local Indians, first on Block Island to avenge John Oldham's murder and then in a war declared on the Pequots. The Pequot War witnessed the massacre of women and children and the virtual obliteration of the Pequot tribe. The Pequot War was followed shortly thereafter by King Philip's War in 1675-6, in which thousands of Indians were killed, their crops and villages burned to the ground.
Stannard argues that by targeting women and children, the Europeans were conducting genocidal warfare. He follows this charge up with discussion of the Cherokee Wars in the American Southeast, which were eventually followed up by Cherokee Removal west of the Mississippi. This was the "Trail of Tears" which Stannard refers to as a "death march." Then came the massacre of the Lakota people at Wounded Knee, South Dakota and the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado. Colonel Chivington, commander at the Sand Creek Massacre, was the subject of an inquiry from the federal government - but nothing came of it. Indeed, Teddy Roosevelt was to speak approvingly of the Sand Creek Massacre calling it a "righteous" and "beneficial" deed. The story of California's Indians proves instructive in denying the Black Legend. Spanish missions were cruel and inhuman places, but so too were the settlements set up by the U.S. once California became a US possession. Indians we hunted down, killed or sold into slavery with government sanction. The carnage finally began to slow down in California as the 19th C wore on. There was simply no one left to kill.
September 3, 2021
1492 l'Occidente scopre "il Paradiso Terrestre". Ben presto pero', gli indigeni che lo abitano e che accolgono i nuovi arrivati colmandoli di doni e attenzioni, divengono agli occhi dei "civilizzati" cristiani, la summa dell'abbiezione, simboli malefici di quella selvaggia e lussuriosa esistenza deplorata dalla loro religione. E' l'inizio di un genocidio senza pari nella storia intera. La copertura culturale del massacro non cela gli interessi piu' materiali: gli spagnoli, iniziatori dello sterminio, con il loro parossistico bisogno di imponenti quantita' di lavoro servile da utilizzare per drenare le immense ricchezze del Nuovo Mondo e rimpinguare cosi' le casse disastrate di un impero dai piedi d'argilla, gli inglesi e statunitensi che non hanno bisogno di beni e di braccia ma di terre per espandersi, provocano la morte di 150 milioni di persone. E' incredibile leggere di quali e quanto autorevoli pensatori, in diverse epoche, abbiano dato copertura o promosso il genocidio: dai venerabili francescani implacabili tagliagole, a padri della patria statunitense come Washington e Jefferson (con i loro discorsi para-nazisti), dai Padri della Chiesa a rispettabili filosofi come Locke. Non ci si stupisce che un personaggio come Hitler abbia poi preso ammirato spunto da questa storia e da questi predecessori per il suo delirante costrutto. Piu' prosaicamente mi chiedo: ripensando ai film western, con quei catttivoni di indiani contro giacche blu e cowboy, che ci hanno accompagnato fin dalla culla e fatto il lavaggio del cervello (peraltro molti sono dei capolavori), cosa sarebbe successo a seguito di una malaugurata vittoria del Nazismo? Avremmo avuto una filmografia sull'epopea dei baldi ariani alla conquista del selvaggio est slavo? Meglio non avere risposta!
April 19, 2017
I read this years ago when it first came out. It was an eye-opener! I had no idea that disease wiped out so much of the native American population before Jamestown was settled and the Pilgrims arrived. I own a copy and always recommend it to friends who are interested in history.
August 3, 2022
A good counterpoint to the hagiographies of "western civilization." In excruciating detail, Stannard recounts the nearly unfathomable cruelties committed against the Indigenous people of the Western Hemisphere by first the Spanish, then every European colonial power. The wonders of the numerous complex and advanced civilizations that wete totally destroyed by the colonizers is extremely depressing and tragic to read. Its hard not to be left feeling empty and forlorn after reading about these horrors, which have continued for over 500 years. While most historians of "the West" work tirelessly to excuse the horrific crimes against humanity committed by European societies, Stannard lays them out there for all to see.
A few issues though, which place this book a couple rungs below classics like Open Veins of Latin America or Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Firstly, Standard's identification of Christianity as the root cause of the cruelty and genocidal violence of the colonizers is a classic liberal idealist lens of history. Yes Christianity was constantly invoked as a justification for the violence of the colonizers, and shaped some of their particularities, it should be obvious to any reader that this is merely a cover. Certainly most of these men did see themselves as devout Christians but the material motivations at the core of colonialism could not be more clear. Their aim was material plunder, by any means necessary. Land, slaves, gold, all made the colonists rich and freed them from the lives of toil and torment facing peasants and workers in European class society. Such wealth could also be used to finance ventures to pursue even further riches, to cement one's family fortunes for centuries to come. This was the core goal of colonialism, the extermination of the Indigenous made a necessity by the thirst for more and more wealth and the fear than those whose land this is would stand as an impediment to that. So Christianity, as the ubiquitous ideology, became the natural vehicle with which to justify their actions. This is certainly not to say the Church lies blameless in this, absolutely not, but their active participation in the slaughter was for the same material reasons, even if they covered it up with even fancier words. Otherwise why did the church end up becoming the largest foreign landowner in the hemisphere? The search for an ideological basis for violence carried out for a material reason is very understandable, but remains misguided. It is also a big problem, because if you base your analysis on that you will be led astray when you try and predict in the future where these sorts of threats will arise.
One of the core issues behind Stannard's stubborn devotion to an idealist conception of causality is his rejection of the materialist understanding of how ideology propagates. The material interest of those in power is the reason these ideologies propagate every single time, they do not precede said material interest. An understanding of this is vital for anyone fighting for a world free of these sorts of ideologies, because it shows us that the problem is not Europeans themselves or Christianity, the problem is economic systems (slave society, feudalism, capitalism) which incentivize greed over everything. This in no way excuses or apologizes for the genocidal crimes of Europe, they were and continue to be the greatest crimes against humanity in history. But if we aim to build a just society, based on true equality and freedom, we must be able to target the source of racist, xenophobic ideology so that we can overcome them. An approach which sees these attitudes as inherent within European/Christian society automatically precludes the possibility of building a free and equal society involving these groups, based on the idealist conception that ideology precedes existence.
This is still a good book, despite my critique, but the long diversions into an examination of Christian justifications for genocide is less helpful to understanding the Why of the American Holocaust than the How. On this subject I'd definitely recommend people read Open Veins of Latin America as an important counterpart.
A few issues though, which place this book a couple rungs below classics like Open Veins of Latin America or Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Firstly, Standard's identification of Christianity as the root cause of the cruelty and genocidal violence of the colonizers is a classic liberal idealist lens of history. Yes Christianity was constantly invoked as a justification for the violence of the colonizers, and shaped some of their particularities, it should be obvious to any reader that this is merely a cover. Certainly most of these men did see themselves as devout Christians but the material motivations at the core of colonialism could not be more clear. Their aim was material plunder, by any means necessary. Land, slaves, gold, all made the colonists rich and freed them from the lives of toil and torment facing peasants and workers in European class society. Such wealth could also be used to finance ventures to pursue even further riches, to cement one's family fortunes for centuries to come. This was the core goal of colonialism, the extermination of the Indigenous made a necessity by the thirst for more and more wealth and the fear than those whose land this is would stand as an impediment to that. So Christianity, as the ubiquitous ideology, became the natural vehicle with which to justify their actions. This is certainly not to say the Church lies blameless in this, absolutely not, but their active participation in the slaughter was for the same material reasons, even if they covered it up with even fancier words. Otherwise why did the church end up becoming the largest foreign landowner in the hemisphere? The search for an ideological basis for violence carried out for a material reason is very understandable, but remains misguided. It is also a big problem, because if you base your analysis on that you will be led astray when you try and predict in the future where these sorts of threats will arise.
One of the core issues behind Stannard's stubborn devotion to an idealist conception of causality is his rejection of the materialist understanding of how ideology propagates. The material interest of those in power is the reason these ideologies propagate every single time, they do not precede said material interest. An understanding of this is vital for anyone fighting for a world free of these sorts of ideologies, because it shows us that the problem is not Europeans themselves or Christianity, the problem is economic systems (slave society, feudalism, capitalism) which incentivize greed over everything. This in no way excuses or apologizes for the genocidal crimes of Europe, they were and continue to be the greatest crimes against humanity in history. But if we aim to build a just society, based on true equality and freedom, we must be able to target the source of racist, xenophobic ideology so that we can overcome them. An approach which sees these attitudes as inherent within European/Christian society automatically precludes the possibility of building a free and equal society involving these groups, based on the idealist conception that ideology precedes existence.
This is still a good book, despite my critique, but the long diversions into an examination of Christian justifications for genocide is less helpful to understanding the Why of the American Holocaust than the How. On this subject I'd definitely recommend people read Open Veins of Latin America as an important counterpart.
August 19, 2016
A far reaching codex permeated with a means of humane thinking and rationale that shall one day serve as a bedrock for ancient and enduring knowledge regarding the human condition. An excellent and essential read for anyone wishing to better understand the preconditions, execution and perpetual extension of racist, dehumanizing and ultimately genocidal motivations.
What this book is: A thorough case study in the heinous rage of the human condition. An astute analysis of the greatest holocaust of peoples in world history - along with the conditions that have shrouded it in darkness, lies and purposely constructed illusions - in the context of brutality as a whole. A lesson in empathy and a masterwork of historiography and scholarly thinking.
I would urge everyone and anyone to read it.
What this book is: A thorough case study in the heinous rage of the human condition. An astute analysis of the greatest holocaust of peoples in world history - along with the conditions that have shrouded it in darkness, lies and purposely constructed illusions - in the context of brutality as a whole. A lesson in empathy and a masterwork of historiography and scholarly thinking.
I would urge everyone and anyone to read it.
March 28, 2007
The definitive review of what really occurred in the Americas before and after Columbus set sail. This book will point you towards the truth, but it will also make you extremely depressed. The author does not hold back when describing the horrific acts of torture and flat out slaughter that took place. There are some "good" bits too-- a nice portion of stuff about Bartolomé de Las Casas.
September 17, 2017
I have grown immensely while reading this book and I believe writing an emotionally driven review of a work of non fiction , when I do not possess the vocabulary nor the talent to do justice to it , won't be a beneficial review. So, I will stick to the pros and cons and try to justify why I gave it a 5, and if in the course of this review I realize this book does not deserve a 5 , I will change it . Let this review be a path of discovery for me as well as you , whoever is planning to read it.
So, the pros :
1. Very extensive analysis about the subject in hand.
2. Loved the second part of the book . That part is the show stopper of this book. The first part , that covers the damages done (chronologically as well as geographically) can be skimmed over and the person can directly jump into the second part of the book.
The cons:
1. The first part , where he documents the crisis can be a bit thick to trudge through. Lack of a clear plan as to how it is progressing initially confused me but by the end of that chapters , things usually fell into place. The accounts were heart wrenching and if you choose to go through it diligently, prepare for an emotional ride. I will advice you to read the first part with atleast a map of the Americas as well as markers , note books , boards etc.
2. I didnot like the obsession and comparision with the 40s holocaust. However, the writer redeems himself in the epilogue by touching into all large scale massacre, so I cannot actually keep this as a grudge against him.
Personally, this book was a learning experience. Inspite of knowing the ugliness of this world , I , call it naive, had a naive sense of justice. Having grown up seeing the criticism the holocaust has brought into the international media , my belief that at least the wrong done is acknowledged remained intact through out this two decades of my consciousness. However, this book smashed it. To realise , they (the Indians) have been prosecuted continously for the last 600 years and that it still continues was enough of a wake up call for me. I particularly loved the analyses part where the writer goes back till the beginning of Christendom and also travels till the latest Iraq war into explaining what happened , why it happened , what social and political phenomena aided it and how it has not stopped . This book has a capacity to be used as an anti-Europe as well as anti-Christian propaganda mechanism and should be read with timely check on your personal feelings. Having said that, I believe that this piece of literature should be read by everyone. Do not miss this jewel.
So, the pros :
1. Very extensive analysis about the subject in hand.
2. Loved the second part of the book . That part is the show stopper of this book. The first part , that covers the damages done (chronologically as well as geographically) can be skimmed over and the person can directly jump into the second part of the book.
The cons:
1. The first part , where he documents the crisis can be a bit thick to trudge through. Lack of a clear plan as to how it is progressing initially confused me but by the end of that chapters , things usually fell into place. The accounts were heart wrenching and if you choose to go through it diligently, prepare for an emotional ride. I will advice you to read the first part with atleast a map of the Americas as well as markers , note books , boards etc.
2. I didnot like the obsession and comparision with the 40s holocaust. However, the writer redeems himself in the epilogue by touching into all large scale massacre, so I cannot actually keep this as a grudge against him.
Personally, this book was a learning experience. Inspite of knowing the ugliness of this world , I , call it naive, had a naive sense of justice. Having grown up seeing the criticism the holocaust has brought into the international media , my belief that at least the wrong done is acknowledged remained intact through out this two decades of my consciousness. However, this book smashed it. To realise , they (the Indians) have been prosecuted continously for the last 600 years and that it still continues was enough of a wake up call for me. I particularly loved the analyses part where the writer goes back till the beginning of Christendom and also travels till the latest Iraq war into explaining what happened , why it happened , what social and political phenomena aided it and how it has not stopped . This book has a capacity to be used as an anti-Europe as well as anti-Christian propaganda mechanism and should be read with timely check on your personal feelings. Having said that, I believe that this piece of literature should be read by everyone. Do not miss this jewel.
June 2, 2015
Sometimes I wonder if there is any humanity in us humans.
June 28, 2012
Yeah - reading the TRUTH in print
December 17, 2017
It should be mandatory reading.
I'm sad and ashamed this book is not translated into Spanish - every high school kid should be reading it.
I'm sad and ashamed this book is not translated into Spanish - every high school kid should be reading it.
January 22, 2018
Very well written and meticulously researched book describing the worst genocide the world has ever known. I boiled with fury throughout for a multitude of reasons: the priceless history that was lost forever when the Spanish invaded, the tens of millions of lives lost, the whitewashed trash that is fed schoolchildren by the public education system, the plague that christianity has been on this earth since it's inception, the racism that permeates society and how easily that racism is wielded into genocide, and the fact that the genocide against Native People hasn't actually stopped - it's just slightly less outright. A must read for anyone educated in this garbage country.
March 18, 2024
Listened to on Audible. A shocking account of the greatest genocide experienced on the globe that beggars all genocides: the extermination of the native Americans from Columbus’ arrival until 1900, some 100 million persons, due to pestilence, wholesale slaughter, slavery, starvation, and maltreatment.
December 3, 2021
Best history book I have ever read changed my life
January 18, 2024
Nothing like this book to make you think about whether calling the Western civilisation a civilisation is appropriate at all.
May 20, 2023
Sobering and disturbing. This is a must read.
July 4, 2013
A sobering account of the massive destruction of life that took place in the wake of Columbus' discovery of the Americas. This book offers an important insight into the way in which European contact with American Indian's was almost inevitably doomed to end in massive loss of life for the Americans. Of particular interest were the segments that discussed the development of the religious-racial justification for the slaughter of Indians and Jews in Europe and the placing of this ideological development in the historical context which ultimately lead to the Holocaust.
While I did enjoy this book I wonder how well its facts and figures have aged. I particularly reference here the proportions of Indians killed as more recent research would seem to suggest that in reality much of the killing was already complete by the time large scale European immigration took place and was committed in the largest part by European microbes. Of course such a version of events being true does not take away from the tragedy of this narrative or negate the guilt of certain Europeans but if the case stated in more contemporary research is true then it does weaken stannards argument that the large scale loss of life was a result of systematic slaughter or Genocide.
Overall, worth a read although perhaps a little outdated in a field that has developed greatly since the initial publication of this work
While I did enjoy this book I wonder how well its facts and figures have aged. I particularly reference here the proportions of Indians killed as more recent research would seem to suggest that in reality much of the killing was already complete by the time large scale European immigration took place and was committed in the largest part by European microbes. Of course such a version of events being true does not take away from the tragedy of this narrative or negate the guilt of certain Europeans but if the case stated in more contemporary research is true then it does weaken stannards argument that the large scale loss of life was a result of systematic slaughter or Genocide.
Overall, worth a read although perhaps a little outdated in a field that has developed greatly since the initial publication of this work
August 27, 2020
This book is a worthy contribution to the 1992 commemoration of the 500th Columbus Day. The unstinting accounts of extermination campaigns and forced labor camps across the New World are sufficient to do the magnitude of horror some justice, and the recorded thoughts or sentiments of the perpetrators are explored in disturbing detail. In comparing the crimes of Spanish and English invaders, Stannard finds the English slightly more murderous, as they tended to massacre the Natives not just for the sake of profit, but as an end in itself. Perhaps the most thought provoking lines are the quotes from U.S. founding fathers such as George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, calling for the extermination of Native societies in words that Adolf Hitler could have easily have copied for his own ends. After all, Hitler used to say that in his people's continent-spanning empire, the Volga River would be "Germany's Mississippi."
November 16, 2021
Too horrific to continue. Yes, we should know about this, and it is certainly enlightening. But after a hundred pages, it became stomach-churning and I had to close it. The first section, however, was worth the read, where the author describes, through reliable sources, how amazingly advanced were the civilizations in the Americas pre-Columbus: way ahead of Europe in so many ways!
August 14, 2023
"There was one little child, probably three years old, just big enough to walk through the sand. The Indians had gone ahead, and this little child was behind following after them. The little fellow was perfectly naked, travelling on the sand. I saw one man get off his horse, at a distance of about seventy-five yards, and draw up his rifle and fire-he missed the child. Another man came up and said, 'Let me try the son of a bitch; I can hit him.' He got down off his horse, kneeled down and fired at the little child, but he missed him. A third man came up and made a similar remark, and fired, and the little fellow dropped."
This passage was included in Stannard's introduction to American Holocaust as a way to show the reader the individual cost of genocide, something which is often overlooked when studying and discussing genocide. The sheer numbers involved with genocide often cause these individual lives and people to go unknown but truthfully, most of these victim's lives will remain unknown. I really appreciated and valued this book for telling some of these people's stories and allowing me to truly see how devastating the first contact between Europeans and Native Americans really was. After reading this book, I truly don't understand how some people continue to believe that the conquest of the New World is not a genocide.
With meticulous research and numerous citations, Stannard reveals some of the potential reasons that the Spanish, British, and Americans committed genocide towards Native Americans which mostly all stem back to religion. I also found the discussion of the different genocidal approach between the Spanish and the British/Americans to be quite interesting with many valid ideas. For example, in order for the Spanish to accomplish their ultimate goal in the New World of exploiting and acquiring all of the newfound world's gold and treasures for themselves, they committed genocide along the way as they enslaved and worked to death millions of Native peoples. For the British and Americans, their ultimate goal in America was genocide so that they would have more land for themselves and others like them, which did not include Native people as they were incapable of being "civilized," according to European scholars and philosophers of the time.
American Holocaust is a highly important work that more people should read. More and more people are beginning to acknowledge the horrors and atrocities committed during the conquest of the New World but it's still not truly considered as a genocidal event that lasted centuries. That needs to change so I urge people to read this book!
This passage was included in Stannard's introduction to American Holocaust as a way to show the reader the individual cost of genocide, something which is often overlooked when studying and discussing genocide. The sheer numbers involved with genocide often cause these individual lives and people to go unknown but truthfully, most of these victim's lives will remain unknown. I really appreciated and valued this book for telling some of these people's stories and allowing me to truly see how devastating the first contact between Europeans and Native Americans really was. After reading this book, I truly don't understand how some people continue to believe that the conquest of the New World is not a genocide.
With meticulous research and numerous citations, Stannard reveals some of the potential reasons that the Spanish, British, and Americans committed genocide towards Native Americans which mostly all stem back to religion. I also found the discussion of the different genocidal approach between the Spanish and the British/Americans to be quite interesting with many valid ideas. For example, in order for the Spanish to accomplish their ultimate goal in the New World of exploiting and acquiring all of the newfound world's gold and treasures for themselves, they committed genocide along the way as they enslaved and worked to death millions of Native peoples. For the British and Americans, their ultimate goal in America was genocide so that they would have more land for themselves and others like them, which did not include Native people as they were incapable of being "civilized," according to European scholars and philosophers of the time.
American Holocaust is a highly important work that more people should read. More and more people are beginning to acknowledge the horrors and atrocities committed during the conquest of the New World but it's still not truly considered as a genocidal event that lasted centuries. That needs to change so I urge people to read this book!
March 4, 2017
Heady, heavy, eye-opening stuff. Stannard presents his case that 'it is impossible to know what transpired in the Americas during the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries and not conclude that it was genocide'. And in this respect, the chief culprits he identifies are the Spanish in South and Central America, and the English/British and post-1776 non-native Americans. This is not I view I have ever seriously doubted, but the presentation of the evidence is daunting, draining and numbingly dispiriting.
Stannard divides his account into three parts: 'Before Columbus', 'Pestilence and Genocide', and 'Sex, Race, and Holy War'. I found the first and third sections the most interesting: the former because it gives an account of the complexities of the widespread American civilisations that developed before 1492, the latter because it analyses the motivations and intellectual mindsets of the perpetrators of the mass killings of native populations that allowed them to kill so extensively and mercilessly. And all this contrasted with the, generally, hospitable treatment offered settlers and newcomers by native peoples. The desperation, greed and arrogance of the Europeans is highlighted again and again, and I found the religious thinking of the Puritan/Protestant settlers in North America particularly disturbing, especially in the light of current global extremisms: anything is justifiable if people feel disenfranchised, marginalised, desperate for some certainty in social circumstances that offer none or who are motivated by the sheer lust for wealth, power, and/or land. As I understood it, in a nutshell, Stannard proposes that Puritan settlers argued that the land was a gift from God, and God's expectation of his people was that land should be used for everything that could be got out of it. If land was inhabited by those who did not use it in this way, then the righteous were entitled to seize it, if necessary by killing the occupants. This in spite of the fact that, as Stannard points out, the native Americans were already using the land: it's just that they did not use it in the exploitative way the settlers believed to be their duty. But then, the Europeans in North America were no less averse to worldly wealth than the Spanish in the South: it's just that they hid it behind religious dogmas. In this respect, Stannard's analysis, though never critical of religion per se, tacitly presents a pretty damning view of Christianity and, by extension, any set of beliefs that can be so small-minded and self-interested.
The second section of the book, 'Pestilence and Genocide' again only confirms what I knew. However, it does so in unrelenting detail, cataloguing the, increasingly distressing, numbers of those slain by European invaders and the manner in which they died. European diseases ripped through populations, and if the common cold and venereal diseases didn't get you, then European steel and methods of torture and dismemberment would - and that after you had been enslaved and worked to death. Although this section is a necessary part of the historical revisionism of the argument, I found it became wearing, and after a while the enormous numbers being cited became meaningless except in so far as they made the point again and again, unremittingly. [The heavy-going aspect of this section makes me give the book a 4 rather than a 5 star rating.]
I don't recall any moments of relief apart from the several references to occasions when the invading Europeans, finding themselves in desperate circumstances or finding themselves disillusioned with what they were doing, 'went native' and joined those in whose country they had sought wealth or a new life. I feel I should be careful not to romanticise this: who knows whether those who went over to the other side were happy or contributed to the success and happiness of those who took them in? But I like to think that they saw the light, and that they recognised that so-called primitive peoples had civilised values that exceeded those of the continent from which they had come.
Stannard divides his account into three parts: 'Before Columbus', 'Pestilence and Genocide', and 'Sex, Race, and Holy War'. I found the first and third sections the most interesting: the former because it gives an account of the complexities of the widespread American civilisations that developed before 1492, the latter because it analyses the motivations and intellectual mindsets of the perpetrators of the mass killings of native populations that allowed them to kill so extensively and mercilessly. And all this contrasted with the, generally, hospitable treatment offered settlers and newcomers by native peoples. The desperation, greed and arrogance of the Europeans is highlighted again and again, and I found the religious thinking of the Puritan/Protestant settlers in North America particularly disturbing, especially in the light of current global extremisms: anything is justifiable if people feel disenfranchised, marginalised, desperate for some certainty in social circumstances that offer none or who are motivated by the sheer lust for wealth, power, and/or land. As I understood it, in a nutshell, Stannard proposes that Puritan settlers argued that the land was a gift from God, and God's expectation of his people was that land should be used for everything that could be got out of it. If land was inhabited by those who did not use it in this way, then the righteous were entitled to seize it, if necessary by killing the occupants. This in spite of the fact that, as Stannard points out, the native Americans were already using the land: it's just that they did not use it in the exploitative way the settlers believed to be their duty. But then, the Europeans in North America were no less averse to worldly wealth than the Spanish in the South: it's just that they hid it behind religious dogmas. In this respect, Stannard's analysis, though never critical of religion per se, tacitly presents a pretty damning view of Christianity and, by extension, any set of beliefs that can be so small-minded and self-interested.
The second section of the book, 'Pestilence and Genocide' again only confirms what I knew. However, it does so in unrelenting detail, cataloguing the, increasingly distressing, numbers of those slain by European invaders and the manner in which they died. European diseases ripped through populations, and if the common cold and venereal diseases didn't get you, then European steel and methods of torture and dismemberment would - and that after you had been enslaved and worked to death. Although this section is a necessary part of the historical revisionism of the argument, I found it became wearing, and after a while the enormous numbers being cited became meaningless except in so far as they made the point again and again, unremittingly. [The heavy-going aspect of this section makes me give the book a 4 rather than a 5 star rating.]
I don't recall any moments of relief apart from the several references to occasions when the invading Europeans, finding themselves in desperate circumstances or finding themselves disillusioned with what they were doing, 'went native' and joined those in whose country they had sought wealth or a new life. I feel I should be careful not to romanticise this: who knows whether those who went over to the other side were happy or contributed to the success and happiness of those who took them in? But I like to think that they saw the light, and that they recognised that so-called primitive peoples had civilised values that exceeded those of the continent from which they had come.
January 12, 2021
"Svoje nasprotnike je udaril od zadaj..." Psalmi 78,66
"Toda v mestih teh ljudstev, ki ti jih gospod, tvoj Bog, daje v dedno posest, ne puščaj pri življenju ničesar, kar diha, temveč z zakletvijo popolnoma pokončaj..." Mojzes 20,16-18
In naredili so tako - neumiljeno in okrutno... konkvistadorji, Britanci, ustanovni ameriški očetje , misijonarji... največji genocid v zgodovini človeštva.
Če se v prvem zvezku Ameriškega holokavsta seznanimo z zgodovinskimi dejstvi in kronologijo kolonizacije in skoraj popolnega iztrebljenja cca. 100 milijonov Indijancev v Amerikah, v drugem spoznavamo kulturne in družbene predispozicije za nastanek pogojev tako okrutnega ravnanja z staroselci. Žal Stannard z zelo prepričljivo argumentacijo (in z mnogimi dokumenti ter referencami) dokazuje, da je rasizem kot tak ideološko vgrajen v teološko in kulturno strukturo Zahoda zaradi (med drugim) zadrgnjenega odnosa do spolnosti skozi krščansko prizmo grešnosti, temelječo na samopreziru, ki vse čutno označuje kot gnusno in zlobno; odpora do rasnega mešanja zaradi strahu pred moralno kontaminacijo z nalezljivo "živalskostjo domorodcev"; vere v prirojeno človeško izprijenost (izvirni greh), ki jo lahko kroti le sadomazohizem askeze… Torej zaradi spolnosti, rase in religije.
Kakorkoli - po opisih prvih španskih pomorščakov so bila naselja in mesta Indijancev dih jemajoča, urejena, harmonična, bogata in cvetoča (Tenochtitlan je bil celo največje mesto na svetu v tem času ). 1492 so v večtisočletno civilizacijo pridrli predstavniki teološko najbolj arogantne in do nasilja najbolj tolerantne verske kulture in povzročili "starozavezno" uničenje sklicujoč se na v vero zavite izgovore in pretveze, a v resnici šlo je za zlato, duše in zemljo. Apokalipsa s Kolumbovim kužnim dahom ali njegovim krvavim rapirjem je pomenila začetek kolonializma in stvaritev duha kapitalizma, v katerem sta morala Indijanec in njegov gozd izumreti... in z njimi tudi ideje, ki jih dandanes ponovno spoznavamo in cenimo in od katerih je odvisen naš obstoj - namreč sožitja z naravo, trajnostnega gospodarjenja, močne družbene kohezije itn.
Če boste vzeli to knjigo (pravzaprav dve) v roke, vam bosta povzročali slabost v želodcu in globok občutek sramote. "Pot v Auschwitz je vodila čez Karibe."
"Toda v mestih teh ljudstev, ki ti jih gospod, tvoj Bog, daje v dedno posest, ne puščaj pri življenju ničesar, kar diha, temveč z zakletvijo popolnoma pokončaj..." Mojzes 20,16-18
In naredili so tako - neumiljeno in okrutno... konkvistadorji, Britanci, ustanovni ameriški očetje , misijonarji... največji genocid v zgodovini človeštva.
Če se v prvem zvezku Ameriškega holokavsta seznanimo z zgodovinskimi dejstvi in kronologijo kolonizacije in skoraj popolnega iztrebljenja cca. 100 milijonov Indijancev v Amerikah, v drugem spoznavamo kulturne in družbene predispozicije za nastanek pogojev tako okrutnega ravnanja z staroselci. Žal Stannard z zelo prepričljivo argumentacijo (in z mnogimi dokumenti ter referencami) dokazuje, da je rasizem kot tak ideološko vgrajen v teološko in kulturno strukturo Zahoda zaradi (med drugim) zadrgnjenega odnosa do spolnosti skozi krščansko prizmo grešnosti, temelječo na samopreziru, ki vse čutno označuje kot gnusno in zlobno; odpora do rasnega mešanja zaradi strahu pred moralno kontaminacijo z nalezljivo "živalskostjo domorodcev"; vere v prirojeno človeško izprijenost (izvirni greh), ki jo lahko kroti le sadomazohizem askeze… Torej zaradi spolnosti, rase in religije.
Kakorkoli - po opisih prvih španskih pomorščakov so bila naselja in mesta Indijancev dih jemajoča, urejena, harmonična, bogata in cvetoča (Tenochtitlan je bil celo največje mesto na svetu v tem času ). 1492 so v večtisočletno civilizacijo pridrli predstavniki teološko najbolj arogantne in do nasilja najbolj tolerantne verske kulture in povzročili "starozavezno" uničenje sklicujoč se na v vero zavite izgovore in pretveze, a v resnici šlo je za zlato, duše in zemljo. Apokalipsa s Kolumbovim kužnim dahom ali njegovim krvavim rapirjem je pomenila začetek kolonializma in stvaritev duha kapitalizma, v katerem sta morala Indijanec in njegov gozd izumreti... in z njimi tudi ideje, ki jih dandanes ponovno spoznavamo in cenimo in od katerih je odvisen naš obstoj - namreč sožitja z naravo, trajnostnega gospodarjenja, močne družbene kohezije itn.
Če boste vzeli to knjigo (pravzaprav dve) v roke, vam bosta povzročali slabost v želodcu in globok občutek sramote. "Pot v Auschwitz je vodila čez Karibe."
May 18, 2018
I thought I knew something about the native american peoples but this book made me realize that I had absolutely no idea neither about the populations and civilizations of the continents before the Spanish invasion nor about the size of the genocide and the brutality of the atrocities the Europeans committed during the centuries since their arrival.
In order to allow the reader to comprehend the size of the genocide, the author dedicates the first part of the book to reviewing the civilizations of the Americas before Columbus, in addition to more information in the appendix. The second part is a shocking narration of the grizzly acts committed by the Spanish and the British. The final part is an attempt to understand the historical and religious motivations of the Euro-Christian racism that fueled the genocide, where the author reviews the Euro-christian doctrines of war since Christianity started ruling in Europe.
The authors reviews -in part 3- the European culture which was intertwined with Christianity and arrives to the conclusion that Christianity, by motivating self-hatred that begets hatred of everything that is not Christian, is the main responsible of the massacres committed by the European, not only in the Americas, but also in Africa and Asia and even inside Europe itself.
So, that is history, or is it? Check the news today and you can find news about the mistreatment of native peoples in North and South American countries. Be it physically through more appropriation of their lands and isolation in reservations not adequate for humans, or culturally through ethnic slurs and stereotyping in the media.
For this, the author added an epilogue to the book that reviews recent US attitude towards others, especially Muslims, which are either US citizens or from 'shithole' countries.
This book is a must-read about the history of the Americas and the present of the world in general.
In order to allow the reader to comprehend the size of the genocide, the author dedicates the first part of the book to reviewing the civilizations of the Americas before Columbus, in addition to more information in the appendix. The second part is a shocking narration of the grizzly acts committed by the Spanish and the British. The final part is an attempt to understand the historical and religious motivations of the Euro-Christian racism that fueled the genocide, where the author reviews the Euro-christian doctrines of war since Christianity started ruling in Europe.
The authors reviews -in part 3- the European culture which was intertwined with Christianity and arrives to the conclusion that Christianity, by motivating self-hatred that begets hatred of everything that is not Christian, is the main responsible of the massacres committed by the European, not only in the Americas, but also in Africa and Asia and even inside Europe itself.
So, that is history, or is it? Check the news today and you can find news about the mistreatment of native peoples in North and South American countries. Be it physically through more appropriation of their lands and isolation in reservations not adequate for humans, or culturally through ethnic slurs and stereotyping in the media.
For this, the author added an epilogue to the book that reviews recent US attitude towards others, especially Muslims, which are either US citizens or from 'shithole' countries.
This book is a must-read about the history of the Americas and the present of the world in general.
June 14, 2020
Like another reviewer said this is really three books in one.
The first part is a survey of Indigenous life pre Columbus. You get a nice sense of the scale, cultural, linguistic and political diversity which characterized the New World. Rather than serving as an exoneration from practices we'd consider unruly today, the main takeaway is that it's truly absurd to try and talk about native life in broad strokes. Every tribe had negative and positive characteristics, some were more "progressive" others more "conservative".
The second part is a survey of the actual genocidal activities carried out by the European colonialist. The descriptions of violence are incredibly graphic and deeply disturbing. It refutes any mythologies you might have about Columbus/the conquistadors and the founding fathers, showing how many of our national "heroes" were truly disgusting people.
The third is probably the coolest part of the book. Stannard argues that racism is embedded deeply in the Western psyche. While racism has changed throughout the centuries, its rooted in cultural beliefs about the the virtues of asceticism which were present in ancient times and made unquestionable by the dominance of Christianity and the Church. It is also extremely graphic and forces you to realize the lofty intellectualism of philosophy/theology was, and is seriously divorced from everyday religious life.
Overall its an excellent introduction to the subject and leaves the reader with a nice overview of the indigenous American Genocide, while providing innumerable sources if they want to continue to specialize.
The first part is a survey of Indigenous life pre Columbus. You get a nice sense of the scale, cultural, linguistic and political diversity which characterized the New World. Rather than serving as an exoneration from practices we'd consider unruly today, the main takeaway is that it's truly absurd to try and talk about native life in broad strokes. Every tribe had negative and positive characteristics, some were more "progressive" others more "conservative".
The second part is a survey of the actual genocidal activities carried out by the European colonialist. The descriptions of violence are incredibly graphic and deeply disturbing. It refutes any mythologies you might have about Columbus/the conquistadors and the founding fathers, showing how many of our national "heroes" were truly disgusting people.
The third is probably the coolest part of the book. Stannard argues that racism is embedded deeply in the Western psyche. While racism has changed throughout the centuries, its rooted in cultural beliefs about the the virtues of asceticism which were present in ancient times and made unquestionable by the dominance of Christianity and the Church. It is also extremely graphic and forces you to realize the lofty intellectualism of philosophy/theology was, and is seriously divorced from everyday religious life.
Overall its an excellent introduction to the subject and leaves the reader with a nice overview of the indigenous American Genocide, while providing innumerable sources if they want to continue to specialize.
November 2, 2020
Perhaps a little heavy on anti-European sentiment, considering the audience, but informative nonetheless. Painting a picture of the lands from where Columbus sailed to what happened after is complex and largely undocumented. We will likely never uncover 100% truth from history, yet bits of truth emerge over time, even as other bits become even more obscured, and more history is made. This book by Stannard is unflinching in showing the reader the most brutal examples of what we call conquest and why racial motives were present in the consciousness of the murderers. He leaves out crucial details, however, such as federal political retaliation after the Sand Creek Massacre, which obviously didn't extend very heavily, (any more than Federal attempts to slow gold rush "immigration" of invading Europeans), yet did shift opinions in policy to create the Indian Peace Commission. What government in history made even the slightest attempt to confess? Next unfortunately the book delves into Christian dogmatic motives, racism in Roman Christian society (as if the Romans hadn't nearly decimated the Celts and many other racial groups in the pre-Christian era using similar tactics as the Spanish and English in the Americas) and theories on Chivalry and wilderness which I mainly skipped through. Had the library been open, I could have saved myself $15, yet an informative read on the tragic loss of lives, culture, and knowledge in the Americas and what that means for humanity heading in to the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2022
In this book David Stannard sets out to explain how the conquest of the Americas was the worst genocide in history. This book tells the story of pre-America in a much different light than how our history book explained it. Full of new information and insights overturning old, preconceived notions. For example, many thought that the population of both north and south America was around 20ish million pre-Columbus. New figures put that number at closer to 100 million. In addition, the common theory is that homo sapiens crossed into America via a now submerged land bridge that connects Asia and Alaska. Initially thinking was that this would put people in the Americas around 12,000BC, but newer evidence dates some artifacts in Mexico to 20,000 years prior to that. Which means there were already civilizations in place prior to the agricultural revolution. This and many more interesting facts are found in this overall depressing book. I will say the author is high atop his horse as he lays out all the atrocities committed by the conquistadors and early American settlers. Overall seeming to show a complete lack of understanding of human nature in a given context. This led to the writing style being unnecessarily preachy at times. The overall value and interest of the book made up for this though so I would still recommend it. It is easy to judge the past instead of learning from it.
Rating 7.9/10
Rating 7.9/10
June 16, 2023
Phew, this one is deep. I hadn't realized this book is now 30 years old, since its publication coincided with the 500th anniversary of Columbus's first voyage.
I found the assertion that European colonization of the Americas as genocide to be thoroughly convincing. The eradication of indigenous peoples is presented as clearly intentional and systemic by all major European powers. American Holocaust does focus on the genocidal efforts of the Spanish, British, and later Americans, and compares and contrasts the approaches. However, Stannard is unequivocal that all three's activities clearly qualify as genocide.
Stannard uses writings and the historical record to present evidence of clear intention by both governments and individuals. Additionally, while acknowledging the significant role of Old World diseases, is clear that this does not change the fact that disease was only taken advantage by colonists to genocidal ends, not a force of historical determinism that absolves Europeans in the least.
I strongly recommend this, especially if like me, you read Guns, Germs, and Steel and still believe in the sanitized Manifest Destiny that Diamond uses to claim that the conquering of the world by Europe was inevitable. I now understand the significant problems that Diamond's theories present, because it washes over the utter cruelty and focused goal of American genocide that actually took place (and is still taking place today).
I found the assertion that European colonization of the Americas as genocide to be thoroughly convincing. The eradication of indigenous peoples is presented as clearly intentional and systemic by all major European powers. American Holocaust does focus on the genocidal efforts of the Spanish, British, and later Americans, and compares and contrasts the approaches. However, Stannard is unequivocal that all three's activities clearly qualify as genocide.
Stannard uses writings and the historical record to present evidence of clear intention by both governments and individuals. Additionally, while acknowledging the significant role of Old World diseases, is clear that this does not change the fact that disease was only taken advantage by colonists to genocidal ends, not a force of historical determinism that absolves Europeans in the least.
I strongly recommend this, especially if like me, you read Guns, Germs, and Steel and still believe in the sanitized Manifest Destiny that Diamond uses to claim that the conquering of the world by Europe was inevitable. I now understand the significant problems that Diamond's theories present, because it washes over the utter cruelty and focused goal of American genocide that actually took place (and is still taking place today).
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