Explorers of the American East: Mapping the World Through Primary Documents(Mapping the World through Primary Documents)

Focusing on ten key figures whose careers illuminate the history of the European exploration of North America, this book presents compelling first-person narratives that bring to life the challenges of historical scholarship in the academic classroom. Explorers of the American East: Mapping the World through Primary Documents covers 280 years of North American exploration and colonization efforts, ranging geographically from Florida to the Arctic. Arranged thematically and mononationally, the work focuses on a selection of 10 explorers who represent the changing course of North American exploration during the early modern period. The use of biography to narrate this history draws in readers and makes the work accessible to both a specialized and general audience. The dozens of primary source documents in this guided source reader span travel accounts, autobiographies, letters, official reports, memoirs, patents, and articles of agreement. This wide variety of primary sources serves to bring to life the failures and triumphs of exploring a newly discovered continent in the early modern period. This work focuses on ten explorers, including those who are well known, including John Cabot, John Smith, Jacques Cartier, and Samuel de Champlain, as well as discoverers who have slipped from our modern historical consciousness, such as George Waymouth, John Lawson, and J.F.W. Des Barres. The documents that narrate the voyages of these adventurers are arranged chronologically, vividly telling the story of historical events and presenting different voices to the reader. This variety of viewpoints serves to heighten readers' critical engagement with historical source material. The vast variety of primary source materials present students with the opportunity to read and engage critically with different types of historical documents, thereby growing their analytical skillsets.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chronology Chapter 1: John Cabot's Expeditions, 1497–1499 Biography of John Cabot 1. King Henry VII of England Grants John Cabot a Letters Patent to Explore 2. Initial Reports of John Cabot's Discovery of Land to the West 3. Raimondo di Soncino Reports on Cabot's Discoveries in Detail to His Master, the Duke of Milan, December 18, 1497 4. Soncino Reports of John Cabot's Plans for His 1498 Voyage, December 18, 1497 5. Grant for and Petition to Pay John Cabot's Pension 6. Second Letters Patent to John Cabot, February 3, 1498 7. Spanish Reactions 8. Bristol Custom Rolls 9. Sebastian Cabot's Account of His Father and His Subsequent Voyages 10. Uses and Abuses of Cabot's Legacy, September 11, 1718 Chapter 2: Jacques Cartier's Expeditions, 1534–1536 by Jay H. Buckley and Jeffery D. Nokes Biography of Jacques Cartier 11. Island of Birds, May 1534 12. The Geography of Newfoundland, June 1534 13. Trade with Beothuk People, July 1534 14. The Mi'kmaq, July 1534 15. Discovery of the St. Lawrence River, August–September 1535 16. Beluga Whales and Other Marine Life, August 1535 17. Lord of Canada, September 1535 18. Hochelaga, October 1535 19. St. Lawrence Iroquoian Culture in Stadacona, October 1535 20. Sassafras, March 1536 Chapter 3: Hernando de Soto's Expedition, 1539–1543 Biography of Hernando de Soto 21. An Official Report on de Soto's Preparations in Cuba 22. De Soto Reports from Florida 23. Garcilaso de la Vega: The Battle of Vitachuco (or Napituca) 24. Encountering the Mississippian Culture of the Southern Appalachian Region 25. The Wealth of Cofitachequi 26. Encountering the Peoples of the Tennessee Valley 27. Different Perspectives on the Spanish Capture of Slaves 28. The Battle of Mabila 29. Elvas: The Aftermath of the Battle at Mabila 30. Ranjel: Chicasa and Onward Chapter 4: Sir Walter Ralegh's Roanoke Expeditions, 1584–1590 Biography of Sir Walter Ralegh 31. Ralegh's Letters Patent for Exploring and Founding a Colony 32. Arthur Barlowe: Landfall in Virginia and First Contact 33. Arthur Barlowe: Exploring and Meeting Natives 34. Account from the Tiger: The Voyage to Plant the Colony 35. Ralph Lane: Exploration from Roanoke 36. Ralph Lane: Relations with Native Tribes 37. Thomas Hariot: Commodities and Crops 38. Thomas Hariot: Description of the Native Peoples Near Roanoke 39. John White: Founding the Second Colony at Roanoke 40. John White: The Relief Voyage of 1590 Chapter 5: Samuel de Champlain Explores Acadia, New France, and Northern New England, 1603–1635 Biography of Samuel de Champlain 41. Dedication to the Queen Regent 42. Champlain's View of Colonial History 43. Funding the Colony 44. Describing Indigenous Life in Acadia 45. The Ordre de Bon Temps 46. Founding of Quebec 47. Preparing for the First Battle with the Iroquois 48. The First Battle with the Iroquois 49. Champlain's Moral View of His Indigenous Allies 50. Religious Conversion Practices in New France Chapter 6: George Waymouth Explores the Northwest Passage, 1602, and New England, 1605 Biography of George Waymouth 51. The East India Company Determines to Search for the Northwest Passage, November 1601 52. Conditions and Protests in the American Arctic, July 1602 53. Waymouth Discovers a Route West and Turns Back, July 1602 54. Committee of the East India Company Reviews the Expedition, October 1602 55. Establishing a Base for Exploration Off the New England Coast, May 1605 56. Meeting the Almouchiquois, June 1605 57. Observing Almouchiquois Society, June 1605 58. Trade and Betrayal, June 1605 59. The Virtues of North Virginia, June 1605 60. Cataloging the New World, 1605 Chapter 7: John Smith Explores Virginia and New England and Champions English Colonies, 1606–1631 Biography of John Smith 61. First Charter of Virginia, 1606 62. Description of Virginia, 1608 63. The Capture of the Captain 64. Edward Maria Wingfield: John Smith's Capture 65. The Question of Pocahontas 66. A Description of Virginia, 1624 67. A Description of New England, 1614 68. The Description of New England, 1621 Revision 69. Smith Reminisces on His Career 70. Smith's Justification for English Colonialism Chapter 8: Henry Hudson's Expeditions to New Netherland, 1609, and the Northwest Passage, 1610 Biography of Henry Hudson 71. Robert Juet: Hudson's Third Voyage Reaches Maine, July 1609 72. Robert Juet: Exploring Lower New York Bay 73. Robert Juet: Exploring the Hudson River 74. Van Meteren's Historie der Nederlanden (1614): Hudson's View of the Expedition 75. Johannes de Laet's Nieuwe Werelt (1625): Hudson's View of the New World 76. An Abstract of Hudson's Logbook: Navigating the Hudson Strait 77. Abacuk Prickett's Discourse: Navigating the Hudson Strait 78. Abacuk Prickett's Discourse: Winter in Hudson Bay 79. Abacuk Prickett's Discourse: The Mutiny 80. Samuel Purchas: A Note by Thomas Wydowse, and Addendum by Purchas Chapter 9: John Lawson in the Carolinas, 1700–1711 by Jay H. Buckley and Jeffery D. Nokes Biography of John Lawson 81. A Feast with the Waxsaw Nation 82. Sapona Town: A "Delicious Country" 83. Hatteras Inlet and the Outer Banks 84. Cape Fear River 85. The Present State of Carolina 86. The Carolina Climate 87. Of the Vegetables of Carolina: The Red Cedar and Cypress 88. The Beasts of Carolina 89. The Alligator 90. Native American Sociality Chapter 10: Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres and the Atlantic Neptune, 1763–1784 Biography of Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres 91. Spry Persuades the Admiralty of the Idea of a Survey of Nova Scotia, 1762–1763 92. The Survey Commences: Commodore Colvill's Journal, May–June 1764 93. Survey Techniques: Letter from Des Barres to Colvill, May 27, 1765 94. The Isle of Sable: Letter by Des Barres to Lord Colvill, July 23, 1766 95. Practical Challenges: Commodore Hood Reports to the Secretary of the Admiralty, September 5, 1767 96. Knowledge and Resources: Des Barres Writes to the Secretary of the Admiralty, November 13, 1769 97. Soundings Offshore: Extract from Knight's Log of the Diligent, July 11–14, 1770. 98. Cross-Fertilization with Holland's General Survey: Des Barres to Hood, August 13, 1770 99. Fears for the Last Phase of the Survey: Des Barres to Hood, August 13, 1770 100. The Atlantic Neptune: Chart of Egmont Harbor General Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Kelly K. Chaves is professor of history at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. Oliver C. Walton, PhD, is George III Project Manager and Curator, Historical Papers Projects at the Royal Archives in the United Kingdom.