Program Information

English colonizers received little governmental support, but were creative in attracting needed resources. "The World of 1607" puts the founding of Jamestown in a global context while focusing on worldwide cultural developments during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Transcript

Lead: English colonizers received little governmental support, but were creative in attracting needed resources.

Intro: I’m Steve Clark with “The World of 1607”, Jamestown in a global context, sponsored by Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum near Williamsburg, Virginia.

Content: English colonization was privately financed by a joint-stock company called the Virginia Company. Strapped for cash and settlers, the Virginia Company turned to the written and spoken word to garner support. Curator Dr. Tom Davidson notes that countless articles, in print and delivered as sermons, were composed by prominent writers.

“The authors of these tracts took the challenging circumstances of the Jamestown settlement and made them look attractive to potential investors and settlers. This did attract sufficient support to allow the colony to maintain itself long enough to secure an economic future.”

Conclusion: To learn more, visit Jamestown Settlement or history is fun dot org.

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