Amazonia
Man and Culture in a Counterfeit Paradise

17.95

When first published in 1971, Amazonia was a pioneering contribution to the emerging field of cultural ecology. Betty Meggers argued that the Amazon's luxurious vegetation concealed significant limitations for human exploitation, placing a ceiling on pre-Columbian population density and social complexity. This controversial view has implications for academic anthropology and also relates to the modern development of Amazonia, including attempts to introduce sustainable methods of intensive exploitation. Amazonia in this revised new edition includes recent biological and climatic data. Ethnographic and archaeological evidence reemphasize the complexity of the ecosystem and broaden our understanding of past and present sophisticated adaptations among indigenous groups.

Chapter 1 Preface to the Revised Edition Chapter 2 Preface to the Original Edition Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 1. The Ecosystem Chapter 5 2. Aboriginal Adaptation to the Terra Firme Chapter 6 3. Adaptive Aspects of Terra Firme Culture Chapter 7 4. Aboriginal Adaptation to the Varzea Chapter 8 5. Amazonia in the Modern World Chapter 9 6. The Evolutionary Significance of Adaptation Chapter 10 Epilogue: Recent Developments Chapter 11 Selected References Chapter 12 Glossary Chapter 13 Index