The Only Land They Knew

The Tragic Story of the American Indians in the Old South

Plot

From the dust "The Only Land They Knew is the first full account of the Indians who lived in what became the Southern United States. From the arrival of Ponce de Leon in Florida in 1513 to the tragic 'Trail of Tears' in the 1830s, this book captures the history, customs, and contributions of the great tribes of the the Creeks, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Seminoles, Yamasees, Powhatans, and Catawbas. Wright describes these 'original Southerners' in fascinating their homes, laws, religions, economies, and their way of life. And he chronicles the waves of Spanish, French, British, Africans, and Americans, whose arrival shattered this world of peaceful villages that once dotted the land from the Carolina low country to the Mississippi River. Rich in detail -- with illustrations, maps, and photographs -- The Only Land They Knew is a must-read book for anyone interested in American history, in the American Indian, and in the peoples of the Old South."