More than five hundred years after the fact, present-day writers still use hyperbolic adjectives to describe the “discovery” of the Americas. Columbus’s crossing of the Atlantic—and the age of exploration that ensued—dramatically and forever changed the early modern world. The societies, economies, cultures, arts, and burgeoning sciences of Europe were quickly transformed by the ongoing encounter with the New World.
The meeting of the New and the Old Worlds, however, was more than a meeting of disparate civilizations. It was also a confluence of exciting and often surprising associations that continually created new interfaces between materials and knowledge. The Western and Eastern Hemispheres, brought together by sailing ships for the first time on a large scale, helped create the global landscape we take for granted today. Central to this formative moment in global history were New World plants. The agriculture of indigenous peoples mythically and materially shaped English society and, subsequently, its literature in new and startling ways.
Sacred Seeds examines New World plants—tobacco, amaranth, guaiacum, and the prickly pear cactus—and their associated Native myths as they moved across the Atlantic and into English literature. Edward McLean Test reinstates the contributions of indigenous peoples to European society, charting an alternative cultural history that explores the associations and assemblages of transatlantic multiplicity rather than Eurocentric homogeny.
**
Review
“Edward McLean Test shows how Eurocentrism has impoverished our understanding of the early modern world. . . . Test insists on the contributions of indigenous peoples to European society, showing how their ideas and stories, as well as their plants, changed Europe. He also reveals the power of literature as an agent of historical change.”—Frances E. Dolan, Distinguished Professor of English at the University of California, Davis
(Frances E. Dolan 2018-03-05)
“We need a global early modern studies, and this book will help us make one. Test’s wide-ranging and erudite study enriches the environmental humanities through its deep familiarity with English, Spanish, and Native American texts and contexts, as well as his shrewd engagement with the theoretical insights of contemporary ecocriticism. . . . Test’s book will take its place as one of the significant works in creating the fully global, multilingual, and multiethnic understanding of early modernity that we need today.”—Steve Mentz, professor of English at St. John’s University in New York City
(Steve Mentz 2018-03-05)
About the Author
Edward McLean Test is a professor of English at Boise State University.

motw/Sacred Seeds_ New World Plants - Edward McLean Test.epub

motw/Sacred Seeds_ New World Plants - Edward McLean Test.pdf

Test.indd

Edward McLean Test

gcastro3

United States, United States of America

Illustrated, PS, 2019

Jan 01, 2019

producers:
Acrobat Distiller 19.0 (Windows)

Memory of the World Librarian: outernationale

Source title: Sacred Seeds: New World Plants in Early Modern English Literature (Early Modern Cultural Studies)

More Than Five Hundred Years After The Fact, Present-day Writers Still Use Hyperbolic Adjectives To Describe The Discovery Of The Americas. Columbus's Crossing Of The Atlantic--and The Age Of Exploration That Ensued--dramatically And Forever Changed The Early Modern World. The Societies, Economies, Cultures, Arts, And Burgeoning Sciences Of Europe Were Quickly Transformed By The Ongoing Encounter With The New World. The Meeting Of The New And The Old Worlds, However, Was More Than A Meeting Of Disparate Civilizations. It Was Also A Confluence Of Exciting And Often Surprising Associations That Continually Created New Interfaces Between Materials And Knowledge. The Western And Eastern Hemispheres, Brought Together By Sailing Ships For The First Time On A Large Scale, Helped Create The Global Landscape We Take For Granted Today. Central To This Formative Moment In Global History Were New World Plants. The Agriculture Of Indigenous Peoples Mythically And Materially Shaped English Society And, Subsequently, Its Literature In New And Startling Ways. Sacred Seeds Examines New World Plants--tobacco, Amaranth, Guaiacum, And The Prickly Pear Cactus--and Their Associated Native Myths As They Moved Across The Atlantic And Into English Literature. Edward Mclean Test Reinstates The Contributions Of Indigenous Peoples To European Society, Charting An Alternative Cultural History That Explores The Associations And Assemblages Of Transatlantic Multiplicity Rather Than Eurocentric Homogeny-- Sacred Seeds Examines New World Plants And Their Associated Native Myths As They Moved Across The Atlantic And Into English Literature-- New Seeds, Strange Countries: Herbals -- People Of The Figs: Travel Writing -- King Tobacco: A Study In Genre -- The Holy Wood Of America: Guaiac And The Faerie Queene -- Love Lies Bleeding: Amaranth And The Faerie Queene. Edward Mclean Test. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

"More than five hundred years after the fact, present-day writers still use hyperbolic adjectives to describe the "discovery" of the Americas. Columbus's crossing of the Atlantic ... and the age of exploration that ensued ... dramatically and forever changed the early modern world. The societies, economies, cultures, arts, and burgeoning sciences of Europe were quickly transformed by the ongoing encounter with the New World. The meeting of the New and the Old Worlds, however, was more than a meeting of disparate civilizations. It was also a confluence of exciting and often surprising associations that continually created new interfaces between materials and knowledge. The Western and Eastern Hemispheres, brought together by sailing ships for the first time on a large scale, helped create the global landscape we take for granted today. Central to this formative moment in global history were New World plants. The agriculture of indigenous peoples mythically and materially shaped English society and, subsequently, its literature in new and startling ways. Sacred Seeds examines New World plants ... tobacco, amaranth, guaiacum, and the prickly pear cactus ... and their associated Native myths as they moved across the Atlantic and into English literature. Edward McLean Test reinstates the contributions of indigenous peoples to European society, charting an alternative cultural history that explores the associations and assemblages of transatlantic multiplicity rather than Eurocentric homogeny" ..

Cover 1
Title Page 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 8
List of Illustrations 10
Acknowledgments 12
Introduction 14
1. New Seeds, Strange Countries 28
2. People of the Figs 46
3. King Tobacco 68
4. The Holy Wood of America 116
5. Love Lies Bleeding 156
Epilogue 200
Notes 202
Bibliography 218
Index 232

2025-10-27