The Bible and the Beaver: The Pilgrims' Journey and Economic Aspirations

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture about the Pilgrims' journey and the economic factors influencing their settlement in Plymouth.

Merchant Adventurers

The company that sponsored the Pilgrims' voyage, focusing on economic profit rather than spiritual goals.

William Bradford

One of the Pilgrims' leaders who was acutely aware of the economic expectations tied to the colony’s success.

Beaver Pelts

The economic lifeline for the Plymouth Colony, essential for trade and survival.

Samoset

An Abenaki sachem who welcomed the Pilgrims and facilitated communication with the local tribes.

Massasoit

The great sachem of the nearby Pokanoket, who formed a treaty of peace with the Plymouth Colony.

Squanto

A Patuxet Indian who served as an interpreter and guide for the Pilgrims, teaching them essential survival skills.

Fur Trade

The exchange of beaver pelts and other furs for goods that was vital for the economic success of the Plymouth Colony.

Cape Cod

The location where the Pilgrims first sighted land after their journey on the Mayflower.

Wampum

Shell beads used as a medium of trade and currency, which became valuable in the fur trade.

Thomas Weston

A representative of the Merchant Adventurers who attempted to undermine the Plymouth Colony's operations.

Merrymount

A settlement established by Thomas Morton, known for its contrasting lifestyle and trade practices to those of the Pilgrims.

Epidemic

A plague that devastated the local Indian population prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, affecting trade and settlement.

Pilgrims

Religious dissenters from the Church of England who settled in the New World in search of religious freedom.

Plymouth Colony

The settlement established by the Pilgrims in present-day Massachusetts, which struggled initially for survival and economic stability.