Centennial by James A. Michener

This excerpt traverses vast stretches of time and diverse narratives, beginning with a contemporary account of a historian hired for a potentially deceptive writing assignment in New York, and contrasting it with the ancient geological formation of the land that would become "Centennial," detailing its evolution through various eras, including the Ice Age and mineral deposits. The text then shifts to the prehistoric lives of dinosaurs like the Diplodocus, followed by the arrival and adaptation of early mammals like the horse and bison, emphasizing their survival strategies and herd dynamics. Later sections portray the historical struggles of Native American tribes like the Pawnee and Arapaho for horses and land, alongside the experiences of early European American settlers like Pasquinel and McKeag as fur traders, and the Zendt family's westward migration and establishment. Finally, the source touches upon the development of ranching and farming in the West, exploring conflicts over resources, the advent of irrigation, and the eventual impact of settlement on the indigenous population.