Between Words and Things, Tomatoes and Textiles

Extract

Throughout the world, in preparations for the fifth centenary of the discovery of (or lucky find of, or cultural encounter with) the continent of America and the many events planned to mark the date, the European view prevailed. Of course this provoked an outcry from a great many indigenous groups and protesters in both the Americas and Europe. These people maintained that there was no reason to celebrate, given that the Europeans’ relationship with the Americas can be seen as one of the greatest historical injustices since history began.