Thomas Harriot: A Brief Summary

Compared to the Spanish, the English saw colonization as a vital source for the expansion of their landholding. More fertile land to grow their crops meant more resources, which would satisfy England’s growing population. The Spanish were looking to conquer North America for not only the land but also for the native people to be trafficked for slavery. Rather than a talk of complete conquest, planting was a form of settlement for the English showing that agricultural pursuits were their goal. Therefore, North America with its fertile soil and productive climate was a goldmine for the English. Thomas Harriot’s A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia chronicles Harriot’s discoveries in Virginia of not only the traditions/cultural aspects of the Virginian Native Americans but also the climate and soil conditions of the land. As it was England’s goal to achieve
The underlying purpose of his account was to convey that Virginia would be easy to settle because the native Americans were weaker than the English. Harriot describes their towns as “small” and weaponry as “strange” explaining that “the turning vs of their heeles against vs in running away was their best defence” (Harriot 16). Essentially, Harriot was using his account as a source of propaganda to convey that the Indians are weak and that the English would easily be able to conquer their appealing land and use it to their benefit. With their superior weaponry and fighting abilities as well as the fact that they have the spiritual leadership of God on their side, the English were invincible compared to the Indians. This again would be extremely appealing to investors as there would be no difficulty in obtaining the land and immediately using it to their benefit after