Settling Ohio: First Peoples and Beyond

Scholars from various disciplines provide a nuanced story of the people and dynamics that reshaped the Ohio Valley and determined its control. The region's settlement by humans had significant consequences for shaping the geographic and cultural landscape, forming the United States, and influencing world history. The book explores the complex interactions between Native Americans, Europeans, and African Americans, highlighting contested spaces, competing visions of nationhood, and complicated relations with Indian peoples. It also emphasizes the importance of recovering the history of non-White peoples displaced by settler colonialism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 10 July 2023
Publisher: Ohio University Press

The Ohio Valley, renowned for its abundant resources, holds a captivating history that intertwines archaeology, education, history, geography, and politics. Scholars from these diverse fields present a nuanced narrative that sheds light on the people and dynamics that shaped this region and ultimately determined its control.

The Ohio Valley's strategic location and rich terrain have made it a focal point for human settlement since ancient times. The arrival of humans here had profound consequences not only for shaping the region's physical and cultural landscape but also for the formation of the United States and the course of world history.

Settling Ohio, a comprehensive book, delves into the early history of the Ohio Valley, exploring the first inhabitants, their remarkable civilizations, and the archaeological evidence they left behind. It highlights the interactions between Native Americans, who migrated from the East and North, and Europeans in the eighteenth century, resulting in the development of extensive trading networks and the navigation of complex wars. The book also sheds light on the efforts of Native Americans to preserve their national identities amidst violent attempts to remove them from their lands.

By situating the traditional narrative of Ohio settlement within a broader context of contested spaces, competing visions of nationhood, and intricate relations with Indian peoples, the book offers valuable new insights into the chaotic and contingent nature of early national politics and frontier development. Chapters dedicated to apple-growing culture, education, African American settlers, and diverse migration flows into Ohio from the East and Europe further showcase the complex multiethnic composition of Ohio's early settlements and the tensions that arose.

A final theme of this volume explores the impact of slavery on the Ohio Valley. The region was a major hub for the slave trade, with many African Americans being forcibly transported to the area. The book examines the experiences of enslaved individuals, their contributions to the region's economy and society, and the ongoing struggles for freedom and equality that shaped the region's history.

Settling Ohio is a groundbreaking work that provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Ohio Valley's past. It sheds light on the complex interplay of human actions, cultural influences, and historical events that have shaped this region and contributed to its rich heritage. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the history and significance of the Ohio Valley.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821425275