With the spring semester behind us and summer ahead of us, Colonial American Histories is ready to share research and insights! This past week, we’ve published a number of posts around the concepts of discovery and encounters.
Here’s the recap:
First, Sylvia discussed the theories around the Vikings’ encounters with North America.
Jiawei found some great representations of Spanish explorers in popular media. I’ll admit that the ad campaign for St. Augustine was one of my favorite finds.
Jason compared and contrasted explorers of the Old World and of the 20th century: seafarers and astronauts. Haven’t though about comparing explorers and astronauts? Neither had I!
Joseph’s posts provided different perspectives on early encounters in the Chesapeake. First, he delved into the mysteries surrounding the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke, an island off the coast of present-day North Carolina. Then he considered promotional literature printed in England about the Jamestown colony, with a focus on a pamphlet called Nova Britannia (New Britain). As Joseph detailed, Jamestown hardly deserved to be called “New Britain,” but that was all the more reason for some to craft propaganda to entice settlers.
Lastly, Jake’s post on textbook accounts about John Smith bridges this week’s theme and the next. A prolific writer, a not-beloved governor, and creator of the phrase “New England” (for the geographical area still known as such), Smith was on the front lines of English encounters with the Powhatan tribe in the Virginia Colony. Jake evaluated how textbook authors evaluated Smith’s contribution to American history, finding takes from unabashed praise to critical analysis.
The “History of History” is our next theme, with a variety of posts about how historians have treated a colonial American topics. Stay tuned for more great material!
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