Historical Context
An examination of history through the writings and eyewitness accounts of its participants.
Mutiny in Virginia, Part 1
8 Nov 2021
Governor Harvey's tenure in Virginia goes from bad to worse. In this episode, we cover the events up to the ousting of Sir John Harvey. Virginia Seal: By UK -
Governor Harvey's Contentious Start in Virginia
1 Nov 2021
Sir John Harvey is named the governor of Virginia and he almost immediately faces discontent with his leadership in the Jamestown colony. From a criminal trial of his predecessor to a rival
The English Catholics Get Their Colony: The First Days at Maryland
25 Oct 2021
With a patent in hand, Cecil Calvert makes preparations to colonize Maryland. Calvert's brother, Leonard, serves as the first governor. In this episode, we detail the preparations, founding, and
From Newfoundland to Virginia to Maryland: The Story of George Calvert
18 Oct 2021
George Calvert, the father of the Maryland colony, took a complicated path to obtaining a royal patent. We summarize his life and the steps he took to obtain a Catholic colony patent from King
Jamestown Struggles for Survival
11 Oct 2021
After a three month hiatus, Historical Context returns to Jamestown in 1625. Fresh off of being stripped of its charter and being converted to a royal colony, Jamestown struggles to survive. See
The Dutch Colonize New Netherland
4 Oct 2021
In this episode, we outline the first twenty years of interest (up to 1630) and colonize by the Dutch in modern day New York and New Jersey. While few primary sources exist, we've managed to find
Speech: John Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity"
1 Oct 2021
John Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity" was a sermon given in April 1630 while he was aboard a ship headed to the newly established Massachusetts Bay colony. The speech is considered the
Thomas Morton Stirs Up Trouble in Plymouth
27 Sep 2021
We return to Plymouth in today's episode only to learn that another addition to the colony is creating trouble. Read The Division of Cattle: http://www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/cattlediv.html
Speech: Charles I Dissolves Parliament March 10, 1629
24 Sep 2021
***Please note there is an audio crackle at the beginning. That is on our end*** Charles I's dissolution of Parliament in 1629 was a critical point in the divisions between him and the growing
The Start of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
20 Sep 2021
Today's episode discusses the start of the Massachusetts Bay colony, which neighbored Plymouth and also contained English Puritans. Our episode will introduce John Winthrop whose book, "A History
The First Banishments at Plymouth
13 Sep 2021
***In today's episode, you will hear a few intermittent audio crackles. That issue is on our end.*** Strife hits the Plymouth Colony as a few settlers begin to sympathize with the Church of
The Colonization of New Hampshire
6 Sep 2021
***During today's episode, you may hear intermittent audio crackling. That is on our end.*** Not many people are aware of the fact that New Hampshire was the third colony to be successfully
The Destruction of the Weston Colony Brings Trying Times to Plymouth
30 Aug 2021
As the Weston colony slides into failure, the Plymouth Pilgrims are forced into many of the issues caused by their floundering neighbor colony. Read Good News from New England, Part 5:
The Plymouth Colony Gets Trouble From England
23 Aug 2021
While history is full of stories of conflict between colonists and natives, there were times when the problems came from closer to home. Today, a man from England brings all kinds of trouble to the
The First Thanksgiving and Christmas at Plymouth As Told By the Participants
16 Aug 2021
The story behind the first Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Plymouth colony. The Pilgrims also receive a native threat. Read Mourt’s Relation, Part 6:
The Plymouth Pilgrims Engage in Diplomacy
9 Aug 2021
The summer of 1621 brings new discoveries and loss to the Plymouth Colony. The colony sends delegations to communicate and negotiate peace with neighboring villages. With Squanto and other
The Early Days of Plymouth and Native Encounters
2 Aug 2021
While many may believe that native encounters occurred immediately, the Pilgrims lived at Plymouth for four months before having any direct contact with the natives. They must have been a little
From Compact to Colony: Plymouth Gets Its Start
26 Jul 2021
Many people believe the Plymouth Pilgrims found Massachusetts, landed, and immediately started building a colony. In fact, the colony was not started until 6 weeks after land was first spotted.
Precursor to Plymouth and the Story of Squanto
19 Jul 2021
Before the Mayflower crossed the ocean, important events occurred that shaped both the English Puritans and the natives preparations to sharing New England with the Pilgrims. Read “Of Plimouth
Popham: The Failed Jamestown Twin Colony
12 Jul 2021
13 years before the Plymouth Pilgrims set foot in Massachusetts, a colony was formed in modern day Maine. This colony was no blip on the radar, as it had a fort and lasted over a year. It also
Jamestown: The Virginia Company Goes Under
5 Jul 2021
With the colony and the company in chaotic taters, will the English Parliament step in to help to Jamestown? Read the Response to Captain Butler’s allegations:
Massacre at Jamestown
28 Jun 2021
As the population grew and the colonists of Jamestown spread out, a threat would strike the colonists off guard and change the complexion of the colony for generations to come. More on Sir Francis
Indentured Servitude and the Origins of Slavery at Jamestown
21 Jun 2021
1619 marks the beginning of slavery in America. In this episode, we examine slavery's start and the practice of indentured servitude in Jamestown. Read Kidnapping Maidens to be Sold in
A Legislature Comes to Jamestown
14 Jun 2021
As the Jamestown migration boom begins, a legislature is formed, but it comes from an unlikely source. More on George Yeardley: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Yeardley Read the Proceedings
Jamestown: The Truth and Tragic Death of Pocahontas
7 Jun 2021
In this episode, we continue the discussion on Jamestown and focus on the true story behind the life and untimely death of Pocahontas. Read William Cashawe’s Letter:
The Return to and Laws of Jamestown
24 May 2021
In this episode, we cover what led the colonists back to Jamestown and the new laws that came with the arrival of a new governor. http://www.virtualjamestown.org/exist/cocoon/jamestown/laws/J1056De
Abandoning Jamestown
17 May 2021
Those who survived 'The Starving Time' had no time to celebrate as new visitors and challenges threatened the new colony of Jamestown. More on George Percy:
Jamestown: New Leadership, Same Problems
10 May 2021
With new leadership, the colonists hoped for change. In the second episode of the Jamestown colony, the colonists get ready for winter after a famine hits the colony. Unfortunately, just as it
The Start of the Jamestown Colony
3 May 2021
The Jamestown colony gets its start. In this episode, we discuss the circumstances surrounding the decision to colonize America and the challenges faced by those colonists. Read more about
Before Jamestown: New Mexico and the Trial of the Acoma
26 Apr 2021
While people think of Jamestown as the first successful colony, little do many know that New Mexico was founded earlier. In this episode, we explore New Mexico's accidental and controversial
Examining the Three Roanoke Colonies
19 Apr 2021
While many people are familiar with the Lost Colony of Roanoke, little did anyone know that there were actually three distinct groups of colonists on the island at three separate times, each creating
Finding Roanoke Island: How the British Chose the Fateful Spot
12 Apr 2021
With the death of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Sir Walter Raleigh purchases his exploration and colonization patent. Raleigh wants to colonize right away, but does not know where to start. In this
Playing Both Sides: Sir Humphrey Gilbert and British Interest in America
5 Apr 2021
The British were late to the game when it came to colonizing America. They also had the wrong man. In this episode, we discuss Sir Humphrey Gilbert, his challenges getting to America, and the
Before Jamestown: The Spanish Mission and Massacre in Virginia
29 Mar 2021
Many people believe the British were the first Europeans to settle in Virginia when they founded Jamestown, but nearly four decades earlier, there were other Europeans there. The Ajacan Mission was
Before Jamestown: The First Diplomat and The Jesuit Missions
22 Mar 2021
Unlike his predecessors, Pedro Menendez changed the policy of 'war and conquer' when encountering natives. While not absent from conflict, Menendez made peace and relationships a priority in
Before Jamestown: The Spanish Fight the French for American Colonization
15 Mar 2021
In this episode, we examine the Spanish version of last week's episode and look at how the Spanish began to finally get a hold on Florida after five decades of failure. Buy “Pedro Menendez de
Before Jamestown: The French Huguenots Colonize South Carolina
8 Mar 2021
Nearly five decades before the Jamestown colony, the French Huguenots sought America as a destination to escape religious persecution and the War of Religions in France. The French attempted two
Cabrillo and the Exploration of the California Coast
2 Mar 2021
While many associate Sir Francis Drake with the first exploration of the California coastline, Juan Cabrillo actually led an expedition here decades earlier. What did he find and what did he hear
Into the American Southwest, The Coronado Expedition, Part 2
22 Feb 2021
The Coronado Expedition concludes as members of the expedition continues to listen to the direction of the captive native towards a city of riches. As strife with the natives continues, will
De Soto's Expedition into the American Southeast, Part 2
1 Feb 2021
De Soto ends up in Apalache, the same tribal village at the Narvaez expedition did a dozen years ago. Instead of going west over water, De Soto goes north over land and continues into the Piedmont
The Eight Year Odyssey of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Part 5
18 Jan 2021
The expedition concludes with Cabeza de Vaca and the few European survivors on foot in modern day Texas and Mexico. Cabeza de Vaca learns what happened to Narvaez and another barge while on his
John de Verrazzano and the First Interactions with Natives of the Eastern United States
14 Dec 2020
Verrazzano was an Italian explorer, who in 1524, set sail on behalf of France to try and find a seaway to the Far East. He was set to look in between Florida and Newfoundland for a route. While
Juan Ponce de Leon: The General Custer of the 16th Century
7 Dec 2020
Juan Ponce de Leon was a member of the Second Columbus Voyage. As the star of Columbus faded, Ponce de Leon grew in the favor of the Spanish crown and those in Hispaniola. He was the first
John Cabot: The Amelia Earhart of the Turn of the 16th Century
30 Nov 2020
John Cabot was the first European to land on the North American continent and quite possibly explore the east coast of the United States. Little is known about Cabot because unlike Columbus, he did
The Destruction of the West Indies and the Legacy of Christopher Columbus
16 Nov 2020
After the death of Christopher Columbus, a friar named Bartolome de Las Casas chronicled the events which occurred during the first forty years of colonization. Las Casas also translated the
Redemption or Damnification: The Final Voyage of Christopher Columbus
9 Nov 2020
With his reputation in tatters, Columbus sets out on what would be his final voyage. His ambitions are met by a serious of challenging weather events and new native tribes of rough disposition.
Christopher Columbus As A Prisoner
2 Nov 2020
Christopher Columbus is imprisoned at the end of his third voyage. On his way back to Spain "in irons," Columbus writes a letter to the nurse of the late Prince of Spain, who was also a sister of a
Rebellion and Detention: The Third Voyage of Christopher Columbus
26 Oct 2020
Columbus is losing favor in both Spain and the colony of Hispaniola. Can he restore order when a rebellion breaks out? What happens when the Spanish crown sends an investigator to look into the
Drama at Home and Abroad: The Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus
19 Oct 2020
Christopher Columbus stirs drama between Portugal and Spain upon his return from the New World. Can Spain and Portugal settle their differences? Does the geopolitical volatility affect the Second
Christopher Columbus: A First Hand Account of His First Voyage to the New World, Part 2
12 Oct 2020
With one ship missing, Columbus faces further trials in the continuation of his First Voyage to the New World. Disaster would lead him to no other conclusion but to found the first colony in the
