history-in-the-making – Charles County Public Library

Historically Inaccurate: Pocahontas

webadmin — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 11:00:54 +0000

What does a talking tree, a racoon, and a hummingbird have in common? They were all acquainted with Pocahontas…the 1995 Disney film version of her. But what was the real Pocahontas like? Born in the Powhatan tribe, she became famous for her interactions with the settlers of Jamestown, as well as accounts of her saving John Smith from being executed by her tribe. But how accurate is that? Does Disney do her justice and present her like her real-life counterpart? Let’s break it down!

Part I: Breaking Down History

Did the settlers of Jamestown arrive in America through the ship, the Susan Constant? And was Governor Ratcliffe the captain of the ship?

The ship was actually one of three ships, aside from the Discovery and Godspeed, that was sent by the English Virginia Company to settle in Jamestown. However, while Governor Ratcliffe was shown as the captain of the ship in the movie, it was actually run by Christopher Newport. Ratcliffe was on the Discovery!

Was Ratcliffe disliked by the colonists? Was he really after gold?

Not much was known about Governor Ratcliffe, but there have been accounts that he was disliked by the colonists. He often made poor trade deals with local Native American tribes, with colonists complaining that they would run out of materials to trade. While the colonists starved and suffered from disease, he was also said to have ordered the construction of a capitol, which the people of Jamestown were incredibly unhappy about. While gold may have been a resource that was searched for by the settlers, most towns such as Jamestown were actually created to acquire other resources available only to the New World, as well as establish a foothold in the name of their country.

Was Pocahontas acquainted with the Jamestown colony?

Pocahontas was actually well acquainted with the Jamestown colonists and often played with the boys or delivered resources and trade goods to the settlers. However, while the movie portrays her as a young woman, she was actually only around 10 years old when John Smith first met her.

Did Pocahontas save John Smith from being executed by the Powhatan tribe?

Not exactly. In 1607, John Smith was captured by a relative of Chief Powhatan and was brought to the capital at Weromocomoco. A feast was held and Powhatan offered to give him control of the town of Capahosic. There was no account of him meeting Pocahontas until much later. However, at Queen Anne’s court, he told the audience that he was saved from being executed by the tribe by Pocahontas, who had wrapped Smith’s head in her arms and placed her own head over his to prevent his death. It’s likely that this was an embellishment to please the Queen’s court and improve his own reputation with the London Company (which funded Jamestown) due to his own failures. There were no indications that there was any romance between her and John Smith.

Who did Pocahontas actually fall in love with?

There are differing accounts of her romantic life. According to some, she had married Kocoum, a member of the Potowomac (Potomac) tribe, and had a child with him. In the movie, he was presented as a love interest to the fictional Pocahontas, but he was killed before he could marry her. The real Kocoum was killed later on in a conflict between the colonists and local tribes, after which Pocahontas was captured in 1613. After her capture, she married John Rolfe in 1614 after she converted to Christianity and took Rebecca as her baptismal name.

What happened to John Smith?

In the movie, he was injured by a gunshot and had to return to England to recover. In reality, he was severely injured when gunpowder exploded in his canoe, forcing him to return to England in 1609 to recover. He never returned to Jamestown.

What happened to Pocahontas after she married John Rolfe?

Pocahontas returned to England with Rolfe, becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the eyes of some, and a curiosity in the eyes of others. She was often invited to various gatherings in London and was frequently presented as a princess of the Powhatan tribe (due to being daughter of the chief) despite not actually being royalty in Powhatan culture. In 1617, as she was leaving England to sail for Virginia, Pocahontas became very sick and died at the age of 21.

Part II: Recreating History – Corn Pone (6 Servings)

Now that we broke down the historical accuracy of Pocahontas, why don’t we recreate some history? Corn (also known was “maize”) was a staple crop among Native American tribes. Due to its versatility and ability to be dried or ground into cornmeal, it would often be kept in storage for a few years in case of a poor harvest. Corn pone, a type of cornbread, was usually made with cornmeal. Using water, the cornmeal was turned into a dough, flattened, covered with leaves, and layered with hot ashes to bake it.

We will be making a type of corn pone with ingredients they had available at the time:

Ingredients:

1 Cup Cornmeal
1 Teaspoon Salt
¼ Cup Lard (or butter if you don’t have lard)
½ Cup Buttermilk (or ½ cup of milk with ½ tablespoon of vinegar mixed in)
¾ Cup Boiling Water
Honey, Butter, or Maple Syrup (optional for serving)

Steps:

Mix cornmeal and salt.
Add lard or butter to the mixture.
Add boiling water and mix thoroughly.
Add buttermilk (or the milk/vinegar mixture) and mix thoroughly until it becomes a dough.
Roll 12 equal-sized balls out of the dough and flatten them into small cakes.
In a large cast-iron skillet (or a large baking sheet), cover the surface with lard or butter and place the cakes on top.
Cook for 30 minutes in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven.
Serve hot with butter, honey, or maple syrup and enjoy!

Original Recipe

Sources:

Previous Historically Inaccurate Posts:

Historically Inaccurate: In This Corner of the World

webadmin — Thu, 12 May 2022 11:00:14 +0000

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The end of World War II was marked by celebrations and festivities all over the world. Look online at Post-World War II images, and you’ll see people on the streets cheering, waving flags, and, in the case of Times Square in New York, a soldier kissing a complete stranger out of sheer happiness. But what about in countries that lost the war? In Japan, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent surrender of Japan to the Allied powers ended the war…but not the nightmare. In peaceful regions of the country, the people faced varying degrees of hardship. From bombing raids to food shortages, things weren’t easy. With the bombing of two major Japanese cities, the suffering encountered by people near those regions increased.

The 2016 animated film “In This Corner of the World” shows us the perspective of what life was like near the city of Hiroshima before, during, and after fire and radiation swept through the city. But how much of this movie is fact?

Let’s break it down!

Part I: Breaking Down History

Was it common practice to have marriages between two people who had never met before in 1940s Japan?

Yes, it was! Omiai (pronounced oh-me-eye) is a traditional Japanese custom similar to Western matchmaking. During this, a man and a woman are introduced to each other with the prospect of marriage in mind. Parents were usually involved and would ask questions about their respective families during a formal meeting. After a series of dates and meetings, they would come to a formal decision to decide whether the couple should marry.

Were food rationing and harvesting wild ingredients commonplace in Japan during that time?

Food rationing had been in place in Japan since 1940 with the beginning of conscription for the war, with individuals receiving about 12 ounces (0.75 lbs.) of rice per day. Throughout the war, these amounts steadily decreased, causing widespread hunger and malnutrition in the country. Major crops and vegetables, like potatoes, beans, carrots, onions, etc., were also rationed to a few ounces a day. By the end of the war, daily rations reduced caloric intake to approximately 1,500 calories. To avoid starvation, many families turned to foraging wild vegetables and ingredients, such as dandelions, chrysanthemums, chickweed, wild mushrooms, acorns, or whatever edible items they could find. These would be added to their rations, making small, insubstantial morsels of food into nutritious and often filling meals.

Did the Japanese military police often arrest people who were suspected of espionage in local towns during the war?

The Kenpeitai (also known as Kempeitai, pronounced kim-pay-tie) were the military and secret police of Imperial Japan. They were known to arrest individuals who did not support the war effort at home and abroad. If a person was suspected of espionage or promoting anti-propaganda efforts, they were likely to be visited by Kenpeitai. They were known for their brutality, often torturing or killing individuals suspected of hindering the Japanese war effort.

Were time-delay bombs used during the war? How did they affect civilians in Japan?

Time-delayed bombs were commonly used during the war by all sides the war. During air raids in Japan, thousands of bombs were dropped in both residential and agricultural areas. Because some of these explosives did not explode on impact and relied on timed fuses, some bombs did not detonate for days, weeks, or months at a time. Individuals would encounter craters left behind by explosives, with the potential for them to detonate if disturbed. Even today, bombs are still being found in old World War 2 battlefields throughout the world, including areas of Japan like Okinawa.

How devastating were the effects of the Atomic Bomb on the residents of Hiroshima?

The “Little Boy” Atomic Bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. With a 15-kiloton payload (the equivalent of 12,000-15,000 tons of TNT), the destruction was on a scale that the world had never seen before. Five square miles of the city were obliterated, with anyone in the epicenter vaporized and leaving behind firestorms. Anyone who survived, but was within the blast radius of the explosion, would soon suffer the effects of radiation, with acute radiation syndrome spreading throughout the city. With bone marrow (responsible for making cells that fight infection and assist with clotting) destroyed by radiation, most victims died from illness or hemorrhaging. Long-term radiation exposure would lead to various cancers and diseases, such as leukemia. Overall, approximately 90,000 to 166,000 people died in Hiroshima alone.

Sources:

Part II: Recreating History – Japanese Tempura (6 Servings)

Now that we have broken down the historical accuracy of “In This Corner of the World,” why don’t we recreate some history! Tempura is a staple of Japanese cuisine that dates as far back as the 16th-century AD. Introduced in the port city of Nagasaki (another city that was destroyed in World War II by an atomic bomb), this popular dish was made with flour, sugar, sake, and then deep-fried in lard. With the more modern use of vegetable oil and availability of other ingredients, recipes in the 1900’s traditionally used flour, water, and eggs for the batter. Vegetables were commonplace and used frequently for tempura, though some locations used seafood in their recipes.

Here’s a basic tempura recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 Large Egg
1 Cup Ice-Cold Water
Vegetables of your choice (Broccoli florets, onion rings, sweet potato slices, and eggplant slices are recommended to start)
Vegetable Oil, for frying
Soy Sauce (optional for dipping)

Directions:

Beat one large egg in a small bowl.
Add water to the egg and mix.
Slowly add flour to the egg mixture, but do not overmix (it should be a little lumpy).
Heat up your vegetable oil in a pot on medium-high heat or until the oil temperature is about 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using a bit of extra flour, lightly coat all your vegetables.
Dip the vegetables in the batter lightly.
Immediately fry in the oil for 1-2 minutes, or until crispy.
Serve hot with soy sauce, and enjoy!

Original Recipe: Easy Authentic Japanese Tempura Batter Recipe

Previous Historically Inaccurate Posts:

History in the Making

webadmin — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:00:34 +0000

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Are you an aspiring historian that wishes to learn about the past? Have you ever wanted to use that knowledge to create something timeless? Then look no further than the new History in the Making Program at La Plata Branch Library!

Every month, we will explore a new time period and learn a bit of history of what it was like to live in that era. This won’t be your run-of-the-mill history lesson. It will be a completely interactive experience around a campfire, with your storyteller being pulled from time to explain history from their perspective. Have you ever wondered what it was like to live as a soldier in Ancient Rome? Ask the hardened centurion about it! Are you curious about the shadowy world of espionage in Feudal Japan? Look no further than our resident ninja!

When you’re done hearing from our guest speaker, join them as they give you a taste of life in their era by participating in an activity regarding the topic you learned about. Whether you want to be an Olympic champion of Ancient Greece, or create a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, there’s something for everyone!

The program begins in March, with the series continuing each consecutive month. Below are some of the topics we will cover until June. You can find more information about each of the programs and register on our Event Calendar!

March 15th – History in the Making: The Ninth Legion

The Roman Legion was a powerful military force during the rise of the Roman Empire, winning decisive battles and spreading the influence of Rome throughout the world. Learn more about the history and mystery surrounding the lost Ninth Legion, which disappeared from history in the early 120’s C.E. Then, join your fellow legionnaires and recreate the famous shield of the Legion under the banner of the New Legio IX Hispana as you protect yourselves as a team in the testudo (“tortoise”) formation!

April 19th – History in the Making: Shinobi of the Sengoku Jidai

While shinobi (or ninja, as they are known in much of Western culture) have risen to legend as shadow warriors capable of inhuman feats of acrobatics and combat, the real shinobi of the Sengoku Jidai, or Warring States Period, in Japan were more akin to modern-day spies and mercenaries. While many legends surround their black outfits, real shinobi often blended into their environment in plain sight through the use of everyday disguises. Learn more about the history of espionage in Feudal Japan, then join your fellow shinobi recruits as you create your own disguises and gather information on your target. Remember: all is not what it seems…

May 17th – History in the Making: Champions of Greece

The origins of the modern Olympics date back several millennia to the first games in Ancient Greece. From wrestling to the pentathlon, athletes from the various kingdoms and city-states of Greece participated in various events for glory and honor. Learn more about the history of the games and the birth of the Olympic flame, then join your fellow athletes as you participate in one of the greatest games of the Olympics: the discus throw. Which of you will take home the ultimate prize and bring glory and honor to your home?

June 21st – History in the Making: Reviving the Renaissance

From the 15th to the 16th centuries, the Renaissance flourished in Italy and revived interest in the study of Classical antiquity. It became a period of scientific, artistic, technological, and philosophical growth in the region, with its influence spreading throughout the known world. Learn more about the history of the Renaissance as we explore various works and people who sparked the “rebirth” of a new age of exploration and discovery. Then join your fellow artists and engineers as you recreate paintings and engineering marvels straight from the journal of one of the most famous and influential individuals of the time: Leonardo da Vinci. Will you have what it takes to create a masterpiece to stand the test of time?

Look out for a second blog post later in 2022, which will outline topics for the second half of the year! Hope to see you all there, fellow time travelers!