1607: A New Look at Jamestown

Describes the new research and archeological discoveries at Jamestown and demonstrates how our knowledge and historians' views can change. Clearly written and well illustrated showing how previous beliefs about the Jamestown Settlement are erroneous. Provides an excellent account of the Native American tribes’ history and relationships before and after the arrival of the colonists. A remarkable account of the process of colonization with all the problems and challenges they faced. Essential U.S. Colonial History resource.

1607 is a decent overview of the founding of Jamestown, with photos from Historic Jamestowne reenactment park and archaeological excavations. It leans a little heavily towards the "both were in the wrong" view of interactions between the settlers and the people already living there, which oversimplifies things I think, but for late-elementary-aged children, it's not bad read alongside other books about the time period.

This was a very informative book that could be read to a class to supplement material learned in textbooks. Students could also use the book for independent research in the upper elementary grades and above.

I like the additional information listed in the book explaining why so many people decided to leave England to start a new colony in the New World. It does a good job explaining the class system of England and what kinds of people first arrived. I also learned some interesting facts such as many men married Indian women in the beginning which helped keep the peace at first. Also, I didn't realize that the Powhatan still bring "tribute" payments to the governor of Virginia each year in the form of deer meat to remind people that show more their tribe is still in existence and that they are still trying to maintain their culture. I really enjoyed this book because I felt it gave an honest account of the colony of Jamestown and depicts the cruelty of the English settlers as well as that of the Native Americans. The book lists many useful websites to visit and has photographs of the excavated site as well as recreated sites that students will find interesting. This is the second National Geographic series published book that I have read;I will definitely look for more. show less

In 1994, scientists unearthed important new evidence about the original Jamestown fort. The work is ongoing and has changed many established ideas about the early settlers. 1607 incorporates these findings and offers a fascinating look at archaeology in action. Color photographs of costumed interpreters and re-created buildings from the Jamestown Settlement living-history museum depict both English and Native American ways of life. Varying perspectives of the period are represented, including evidence that suggests that Native women married English settlers and lived at the fort; how the arrival of English women changed the dynamics of the settlement; and the importance of indentured servants versus the relatively small presence of show more African slaves.
TCI LESSON 6: A BOAT AND BUS TOUR OF THE SOUTHEAST show less

Although, the Jamestown colony was the first permanent English settlement in North America, it has been overshadowed by Plymouth. Founded by English gentlemen, the colony barely survived. In the past, many described the colonists as lazy. This National Geographic book analyzes more recent evidence from archeological digs that presents a different story. Tree circles indicate that their first years were not just difficult for the colonists, they were the driest in almost eight centuries. Despite the odds, these colonists persevered through drought, hunger, and difficult relations with the Powhatan living in the region.

This book has many interesting photographs from archeological finds and modern day reenactments at the site of the show more colony. It also does a good job of presenting not just the colonists' difficulties, but also trials faced by the Powhatan and why they treated the colonists as they did. However, in presenting both sides, I would have preferred a more linear presentation of the facts. Instead, it seemed like it would talk of an event and then a few chapters later speak of the event again. I would be unsure if it was the same event or a similar one. I was thankful for the chronology at the back of the book to help bring everything together again.

In 1619 the Virginia Company sent over 147 women as wives for the unwed male colonists in the hopes of keeping them happy and thus willing to remain in Virginia. I would have students work for the Virginia Company Advertising Agency. They would be responsible for designing two posters. One would advertise the “Maids for Virginia” program and the other for additional men to join the colony. It would also be fun to research the rules and then play quoit, a colonial-era game of horseshoes photographed in the book. show less

I read this to my nearly 8yo as part of a history lesson. We both found it informative. My son was particularly struck by the idea of a person being skinned alive. Luckily history has many such gems for children to learn about.

As students, we learn the bare bones basics about Jamestown. We learn about Powhatan and his daughter, Pocahontas. We learn about John Smith and John Rolfe, but we rarely delve into the daily lives of the original 104 settlers, the struggles they face, or how Jamestown began to thrive. The book contains maps of the original settlement, the exact and relative locations of the colony, and pictures of the excavations being done at the historical site. The book details the interactions between the Europeans and the Powhatan Indians. It includes an anecdote about a Powhatan shaman predicting the defeat of Powhatan at the hands of a tribe from Chesapeake. As a precautionary measure, Powhatan kills the Chesapeake Indians; however, the tribe show more from Chesapeake consisted of Europeans. Another little know fact about interactions between Jamestown and Powhatan is young boys were sent from the colony to live with the Powhatans to learn the language and the many marriages between Powhatan women and Jamestown men. show less