Chronology of the American West: From 23,000 B.C.E. through the Twentieth Century

This four-part chronology presents the unfolding of the American West from 23,000 B.C.E. to A.D. 2001 Not long ago, the story of the American West was an uncomplicated tale. Its theme was "The Winning of the West," and its plot simply followed Euro-Americans as they galloped across the continent. But throughout the last two decades, historians like Scott C. Zeman have begun to examine the story and separate the myths from the facts. Today the history of the American West is about the land itself; about conquest and colonization; about migration and social change. Its heroes are not only white men, but also women and children, and peoples of African, Asian, Native American, and European descent. In this up to date chronology, readers can explore hundreds of political, social, and cultural plot points, from the arrival of the continent's first migrants more than 20,000 years ago to the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, and from the completion of the trans-Alaska pipeline in 1977 to the shootings at Columbine High School in 2000. Presented in four parts: The Native West (23,000 B.C.E.–A.D.1500); The Imperial West (1500–1840); The Incorporated West (1841–1932); and The Contested West (1932–2001) Sidebars offer in-depth treatment of selected topics Generously illustrated Each section opens with an overview of major events and historical trends of the period

About the Author :
Scott C. Zeman, PhD, is assistant professor of history at New Mexico Tech University, Socorro, NM.

Review :
Zeman provides much Native American, Hispanic, cultural, environmental, and business history in addition to more traditional fare. Zeman has produced a balanced, well-rounded chronology . . . Chronology of the American West is intended for everyone interested in the development of the West and is recommened for high school, public, and academic libraries. [A] fresh look at the history of the region . . . Academic libraries and medium to large public libraries will want this book, as will any library with an interest in the American West. Concise and expertly edited, this chronology is a welcome addition to reference works about the American West . . . Attractively formatted with black and white illustrations throughout, the book is accessible and pleasing to use. Highly recommended for all academic libraries. This is a professional work that will interest the public because of its clarity and scope. This book is highly recommended for all libraries with history collections. It will be useful for many constituencies, from schoolchildren writing research reports to historians who need to see the broad outlines and contexts of historical events.