Summary of Kevin Starr's California

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

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#1 The name California was derived from a Spanish novel that was published in 1510. The novel chronicled the adventures of Esplandián, a son of the hero Amadis of Gaul, at the siege of Constantinople. Esplandián’s allies at the siege were the Californians, a race of black Amazons under the command of Queen Calafia.

#2 The American state of California is located between latitude 42 degrees north and latitude 32 degrees north. On a clear day, California appears as a serene palette of blue, green, brown, white, and red. However, this apparent serenity masks a titanic drama occurring beneath the surface.

#3 The landscape of California is a mosaic of stark contrasts, vibrant and volatile with the geological forces that shaped the western edge of the continent. Coastal California, where settlement began and maintains its greatest density, sustains a variety of salubrious climates.

#4 California is a distinct bioregion due to its water and climate. It is a island on the land, sealed off by the Pacific, the Sierra Nevada, the Klamath and Cascade ranges in the north, and the Mojave Desert in the southeast.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Mar 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669378662

IRB Media

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Insights on Kevin Starr's California

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 12

Insights from Chapter 13

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The name California was derived from a Spanish novel that was published in 1510. The novel chronicled the adventures of Esplandián, a son of the hero Amadis of Gaul, at the siege of Constantinople. Esplandián’s allies at the siege were the Californians, a race of black Amazons under the command of Queen Calafia.

#2

The American state of California is located between latitude 42 degrees north and latitude 32 degrees north. On a clear day, California appears as a serene palette of blue, green, brown, white, and red. However, this apparent serenity masks a titanic drama occurring beneath the surface.

#3

The landscape of California is a mosaic of stark contrasts, vibrant and volatile with the geological forces that shaped the western edge of the continent. Coastal California, where settlement began and maintains its greatest density, sustains a variety of salubrious climates.

#4

California is a distinct bioregion due to its water and climate. It is a island on the land, sealed off by the Pacific, the Sierra Nevada, the Klamath and Cascade ranges in the north, and the Mojave Desert in the southeast.

#5

California was home to many ancient trees, including the redwood and the sequoia. It was also home to many animals, including the black bear, the brown bear, and the great grizzly.

#6

The Native Americans of California had been living in the area for more than 25 generations since their ancestors had first settled down at various points and in various ways in the mountain- and desert-guarded enclave.

#7

The Native American California was made up of many different tribes, and each had their own unique culture. The Yuki, the Tolowa, the Karok, and the Yurok were a group of fishing peoples who lived in the northwest. The Wintun, the Shasta, and the Yana lived in the west.

#8

The Native American Californiaans were not warlike, and they did not develop elaborate hierarchies. They had no need to make war, since they had plenty of food and resources to sustain themselves.

#9

The first Californians were a highly developed culture that existed outside of the European and American cultures that came after them. They had a rich heritage of creation myths, totems, and taboos, as well as rituals and protocols for stylized warfare and peace.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

The exploration and conquest of the New World was motivated by the dream of places as far-fetched