Week 2 of Colonial Month

So here we are starting a second week. I didn't get as much done this time, but I did go over to my Annals of America set and start reading the first volume. I got the set from the library donation table a couple of years ago, and it had clearly spent some serious time in a basement, but the price was right! Here's what I read:




Christopher Columbus' description of his "Discovery of the New World" (this is a letter to Lord Rapheel Sanchez, a patron, dated March 1493). He describes finding several islands, which he named San Salvador, Ferdinanda, Isabella, Juana (now Cuba), and Hispaniola, and expresses confidence that Cathay is right next door. He also describes the people and the lay of the land, and claims that most of them continue to think that he is a god.

It never ceases to amaze me that the explorers felt so entitled to lay claim to all the lands they saw. "Nice country--we'll take it." Sure, there were people living there, who clearly had a society going on, but no worries. And he thought he was taking over bits of China, which was an empire itself. It's just strange to me.




The First Charter of Virginia, from King James I to the London and Plymouth Companies, 1606. This charter lays out how much land the companies may have, how they will govern it, and what they may do.








I also read the first half of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, which is quite an enjoyable read, so I recommend it--Franklin had a sharp sense of humor.

And I finished the sermon from last week--I'm glad I did, the last bit was more interesting than the rest and I kind of enjoyed it.




What have you been reading?