The American Race
A Linguistic Classification and Ethnographic Description of the Native Tribes of North and South America

Published in 1891, the earliest attempt to classify the indigenous languages of the Americas.

Daniel Garrison Brinton (Author)

9781108006477, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 November 2009

396 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.2 cm, 0.5 kg

First published in 1891, this book was the earliest attempt to construct a systematic classification of all the indigenous languages of the Americas, focusing particularly on the relationship between culture and grammar and vocabulary. It addresses the various theories of the origins of the American race, and the archaeological evidence for the presence of humans in the Americas. It discusses geologists' opinions and the physical geography of the Americas in relation to Europe, and considers the physical characteristics of the Native Americans, their culture, religion, domestic habits and family organisation, providing a comprehensive anthropological and historical context for the linguistic work. Special attention is paid to the parts of the continent, mostly south of Mexico, whose ethnography was little known at the time of writing. Each chapter covers a particular region, and there is a detailed linguistic appendix.

Preface
Part I. Introductory: 1. Racial history and characteristics
Part II. North American tribes: 2. The north Atlantic group
3. The north Pacific group
4. The central group
Part III. South American tribes: 5. The south Pacific group
6. The south Atlantic group
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Anthropology [JHM]