58 Questions
What is the significance of John Smith's text in American Literature?
It is the first account of the contact between Native Americans and the new arrivals.
From whose point of view will we review John Smith's contact with Native Americans?
From both Native American and rich points of view.
Where was John Smith captured by Native Americans?
On the Serecomoco River
What did Native Americans typically do when European settlers came to their villages asking for food and water?
They provided them with food and water.
What was the name of Pocahontas's father?
Powhatan
Why are the rivers James, Yorke, Rafanek, and Potomac mentioned in the context of John Smith's capture?
They were part of the Serecomoco River.
What was John Smith's role in American history?
He set the ground for the rest of the colonies that arrived in America.
What was the typical response of Native Americans to European settlers who came to their villages before John Smith's capture?
They provided them with food and water, and safe passage.
What was the intention of the Spanish royalty when they arrived at Luis' tribe?
To intimidate Luis and his tribe to hand over Luis
What happened to the three missionaries when they went back to the settlement?
They died of hunger on their way back
Why did Luis suggest that his tribe adopt Alonso?
Because he knew the Spanish would come back and seek revenge
What did the Spanish do to the 20 Indians they captured?
They tortured them to get information about Luis
Why did the general start an Arbicampian expedition?
To search for Alonso
What happened when the ship arrived at the Indian settlement?
The Spanish destroyed the settlement and killed everyone
What did the general do to the 19 people from the rival tribe?
He hung their heads from the masts of the ship
What did the English do when they arrived in the land 20 years later?
They took children from the Indians
Why did Luis' tribe adopt Alonso?
Because Alonso was an orphan
What did the Spanish do when they found Alonso alive in the camp?
They demanded Luis be handed over for execution
What was the result of the settlement established by one of the ships that came 20 years ago?
It was completely vanished by winter.
Who were the first slaves in the American continent?
Native Americans themselves
What was the common practice described by Peter Martyr?
Women throwing themselves at European explorers to betray their husbands.
What was John Smith's occupation before becoming an explorer?
Assistant to a merchant
What was the state of mind John Smith had when going to the new world?
Thinking of abundant beautiful women throwing themselves at him
What was the role of women in the Native American society?
Only gatherers
What happened when the Native American men came back to the settlement after the English explorers were welcomed by the werowansqua?
They were mocked and forced to sit on the ground.
What was the original name of Pocahontas?
Amonute
What was the occupation of John Smith before becoming an explorer, after running away from his job?
Mercenary
What was the context of the description of the Native American women by the first explorers?
To write descriptions and draw them for medieval Europe.
What was the main reason why the Coat wearers took the child of a chief from the Native American land?
They wanted to keep him as a hostage to ensure the cooperation of the Native Americans.
Where did the Coat wearers take the child after they kidnapped him?
Spain.
What was the name given to the child by the Spanish in Spain?
Don Luis.
Who took Luis to Spain and later became the governor of Cuba?
Pedro Menendez.
Why did Luis volunteer to accompany the Jesuits to the new land?
He knew the land and could help the Jesuits settle.
How many missionaries were sent to the new land without soldiers?
What did Luis claim when he returned to the new land with the Jesuits?
He had found the wrong place to settle.
What happened to Luis after he went back to his tribe to bring more help for the Jesuits?
He never returned to the Jesuits.
How many missionaries were left when they found Luis and his tribe?
What can be inferred about the Native Americans' relationship with the Spanish based on the two instances of contact?
The Native Americans were friendly towards the Spanish but had some distrust.
What was the reason for the English to take children from the native American tribe?
To educate them and make them translators for the expansion
What was the significance of Powhatan's heritage?
He had both maternal and paternal heritage, ruling six different chiefdoms
What was the characteristic of the hunter-gatherer society of the native Americans?
It was a matriarchal society
What was the main reason for the transition from a hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural society?
Rising population and need for food
What was the significance of Corn and Maize in the native American society?
They were protein-rich crops that enabled the transition to an agricultural society
How did Powhatan strengthen his political allegiance?
By marrying the werowansquas of the tribe and having only one child with them
What was the role of women in the native American society?
They had a central role of political leadership and moral authority
What was the title of the women in the native American society?
Werowansqua
Why did the transition to an agricultural society take place?
Due to the availability of protein-rich crops
What was the significance of the arrival of John Smith in the native American society?
It marked the first contact of the native Americans with the British
What happened to the brother of the Turkish woman who asked John Smith for a fencing practice?
He was killed by John Smith in a misunderstanding
Why did England want to explore the new world?
Due to the competition with Spanish and overpopulation of England
What happened to the Indians who were captured and brought to London?
They died during a demonstration on the Thames River
What was the government's excuse for taking over the new world?
To help the natives cultivate their land
What was the outcome of the first expedition to the new world?
It failed
Why was John Smith chosen to lead the expedition to the new world?
He was the only candidate willing to take the risk
What happened to the two ships that were sent to the new world before John Smith's expedition?
They were lost at sea
What motivated the Spanish king to fund Columbus's expedition?
To go around the Muslims and control the trade
What did John Smith have with him when he arrived in the new world?
The accounts of Peter Martyr
What was the mindset of the English people regarding the new world?
Some people were for it, while others were against it
Study Notes
Native American Pre-Colonial Society
- Native Americans transitioning from hunter-gatherer to agricultural society
- Rising population led to need for more food sources, especially protein-rich crops like corn and maize
- This transition was possible due to availability of protein-rich crops only from 500 years ago
- Before this, men were not dominant; women controlled the society in a matriarchal system
- Now, men are taking control, becoming chiefs, and women are still powerful but not as dominant
Powhatan and His Kingdom
- Powhatan ruled six chiefdoms, then expanded to 30 chiefdoms with over 300,000 people
- He achieved this through conquest, marriage, and strategic alliances with other tribes
- He would marry the werowansquas (queens) of other tribes, have one child, and then send the child back to the tribe, gaining allegiance
- Powhatan's power was significant in the native American society at the time of John Smith's arrival
Early Contacts and Conflicts
- 40 years ago, coat-wearers (Spanish) came, took a child (Luis), and later returned him
- 20 years ago, another group of coat-wearers came, and Luis helped them settle, but they eventually died out
- 4 years ago, an English ship came, and 8 Indians were captured and killed
- These incidents affected the native Americans' perception of Europeans and prepared them for future interactions
John Smith and His Background
- John Smith was an assistant to a merchant in England
- He ran away to become a mercenary during the Dutch-English war
- He fought in Austria against the Turkish Muslims, was captured, and became a slave to a Turkish woman
- He killed the woman's brother in a duel and escaped to Russia, eventually returning to England
- He became a prestigious ex-military and head of exploration into the new world
England's Motivations for Colonization
- England wanted to compete with Spain in colonization
- Overpopulation in England led to problems, and colonization was seen as a solution
- England sought to establish trade routes and access to new resources
Treatment of Native Americans in England
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Native Americans were captured and brought to London as curiosities
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They were put on display, and some even drowned in the Thames River during a demonstration### English Attitudes towards Colonization
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People in England are divided on the idea of conquering the world, with some supporting it and others opposing it due to concerns about native populations.
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The government justifies colonization by claiming that native peoples do not know how to utilize their land effectively, and that English colonizers can help them cultivate it better.
The Virginia and West India Companies
- The Virginia and West India companies are eager to explore and settle new lands despite initial failures.
- One expedition fails, and all captives brought back to London die.
- Two ships are lost, and two settlements fail, leading to a search for a new leader for the expedition.
John Smith's Expedition
- John Smith is chosen to lead the expedition due to a lack of other willing candidates.
- He is given full authority and resources for the expedition.
- Smith is influenced by the accounts of Peter Martyr, which may have shaped his mindset and approach to colonization.
- He arrives at the new lands and gets captured by the native populations.
Learn about the early history of America, including who came to America, how they arrived, and what brought them. Discover John Smith's role in this history and the significance of his text.
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