NAST 243   American Indian History

Typically, American history is told from the perspective of European colonizers, with the story beginning on the east coast and expanding west across the continent. How does American history look different when we reverse this perspective and put the continent's original people at the center of the story? What has been the experience of America's Indian people, both before and after European contact? And why is this history essential for understanding the world we live in today? With these questions in mind, students will examine the history of indigenous peoples in what is now the United States from 1492 to the present day. Particular focus will be placed on American Indians' history of adaptation and resilience in the face of European and American colonialism.