primary source

A document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.

secondary source

a document or written work created after an event

Age of Exploration

the period of time, beginning in the late 1400s, in which European explorers sought new routes to Asia and discovered the Americas

Chirstopher Columbus

the Italian sailor who persuaded king ferdinand and queen Isabella to fund his expedition across the Atlantic ocean to discover a new trade route to Asia. Instead of arriving at China or Japan, he reached the Bahamas in 1492

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

Three G's

God, Gold, Glory

Pocahontas

A native Indian of America, daughter of Chief Powahatan, who was one of the first to marry an Englishman, John Rolfe, and return to England with him; about 1595-1617; Pocahontas' brave actions in saving an Englishman paved the way for many positive English and Native relations.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, found in East Virginia

Powhatans

a group of Indians that helped the Jamestown settlers until the settlers demanded food from them

John Smith

Helped found and govern Jamestown. His leadership and strict discipline helped the Virginia colony get through the difficult first winter.

John Rolfe

He was one of the English settlers at Jamestown (and he married Pocahontas). He discovered how to successfully grow tobacco in Virginia and cure it for export, which made Virginia an economically successful colony.