Question

source: adapted from the lost colony and jamestown drought, science, april 24, 1998.
note: the study determined rainfall amounts by examining tree - ring patterns in old cypress trees growing near jamestown. every year leaves a growth ring inside the trunk of a tree. a wider ring indicates more rainfall. every year leaves a growth ring inside the trunk of a tree. a wider ring indicates more rainfall. a narrow ring usually means less rain. 0 on the chart means average tree - ring size and therefore average rainfall.
document analysis

1. what is indicated by a sharp spike below the 0 line? what were the dates of the first five years of settlement in jamestown? (see background essay)
2. look at the years 1580 to 1640. during which period did jamestown suffer its longest unknown period of drought?
3. in the winter of 1609 - 1610, jamestown experienced what settlers called the “starving time.” based on this document, what inference can you make about the cause of this “starving time.”
4. is there any way lack of rain might strain english relations with the powhatans? explain.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the rainfall - index graph

The graph shows the rainfall index over years. A value below 0 on the rainfall - index means less rain. A sharp spike below the 0 line indicates a significant decrease in rainfall, likely a severe drought.

Step2: Identify the first five years of settlement in Jamestown

The settlement in Jamestown began around 1607. We need to find the years with sharp spikes below 0 in the early years.

Step3: Determine the period of longest drought

By looking at the years 1580 - 1640, we can visually identify the period with the longest continuous stretch of values below 0 on the rainfall - index.

Step4: Infer about the “starving time”

The “starving time” was in 1609 - 1610. If there was a significant drought (low rainfall index) during this time, it could have affected crop growth and water availability, leading to starvation.

Step5: Consider the impact on relations with Powhatans

If lack of rain led to food shortages in Jamestown, the settlers might have been more desperate for resources, which could have strained their relations with the Powhatans as they might have tried to obtain food and water from them.

Answer:

1. A sharp spike below the 0 line indicates a severe drought. The first five years of settlement in Jamestown were around 1607 - 1611. We need to check the rainfall - index for these years on the graph.
2. By visually inspecting the graph for the years 1580 - 1640, we can find the period with the longest continuous stretch of negative rainfall - index values to determine the longest drought period.
3. If the rainfall - index was very low during 1609 - 1610, it is likely that the lack of rain affected crop growth and water supply, causing the “starving time”.
4. If there was a lack of rain leading to food and water shortages in Jamestown, the settlers might have become more desperate and tried to take resources from the Powhatans, straining their relations.