A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia

"A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia" by Thomas Harriot is a historical account written in the late 16th century, specifically around 1590. It serves as an exploration and report on Virginia, detailing its potential for colonization and the natural resources available. The book describes the land discovered by the English Colony led by Sir Richard Greinuile and provides insights into the inhabitants, their culture, and the agriculture and commodities of the region. In this treatise, Harriot outlines various commodities that can be harvested from Virginia, such as silk, grains, herbs, and timber, alongside descriptions of the local flora and fauna. He discusses the agricultural practices of the indigenous people, highlighting their techniques for planting and harvesting, and emphasizes the abundance and variety of resources in the area. The text reflects a keen interest in promoting the settlement of Virginia, urging potential investors and colonists to recognize its wealth and opportunities, while also painting a nuanced picture of the native populations and their ways of life. Harriot combines scientific observations with a persuasive narrative to advocate for the colonization of this new world, thus contributing to the understanding and appeal of the New World during the Age of Exploration. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Thomas Harriot, also spelled Harriott, Hariot or Heriot, was an English astronomer, mathematician, ethnographer and translator to whom the theory of refraction is attributed. Thomas Harriot was also recognized for his contributions in navigational techniques, working closely with John White to create advanced maps for navigation. While Harriot worked extensively on numerous papers on the subjects of astronomy, mathematics and navigation, he remains obscure because he published little of it, namely only The Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1588). This book includes descriptions of English settlements and financial issues in Virginia at the time. He is sometimes credited with the introduction of the potato to the British Isles. Harriot invented binary notation and arithmetic several decades before Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, but this remained unknown until the 1920s. He was also the first person to make a drawing of the Moon through a telescope, on 5 August 1609, about four months before Galileo Galilei.