Presents a comprehensive examination of North American history between Columbus's landing in 1492 and the founding of Jamestown in 1607; and describes the explorations by the Vikings, French, Moorish slaves, and Spanish conquistadors.

Vinland : first contact -- 1492 : the hidden half of the globe -- Santo Domingo : the Columbus jinx -- Dominican Republic : you think there are still Indians? -- Gulf coast : naked and lost in the new world -- The Southwest : to the seven cities of stone -- The plains : sea of grass -- The South : De Soto does Dixie -- The Mississippi : conquistador's last stand -- Florida : fountain of youth, river of blood -- Roanoke : lost in the lost colony -- Jamestown : the captain and the naturals -- Plymouth : tale of two rocks.