1.8: Mary Rowlandson, Chronicler of King Philip's War

History: Beyond the Textbook

Amidst the deadliest per capita conflict in the colonial era, Mary Rowlandson, wife of a prominent minister, was captured by enemy forces in what history has recorded as King Philip's War. She was moved constantly during her 12-weeks as a prisoner, but her experiences, and strong faith, formed the basis of the book she wrote about her ordeal. This book even formed the basis of a new literary genre, one in which contrasting cultures were highlighted, but not always understood. This episode of History: Beyond the Textbook uses Mary's experiences as the context of understanding the destructive nature of King Philip's War, and the consequences that it wrought.
Key People
Mary Rowlandson, Colonial prisoner-of-war
Metacomet, leader of Indigenous forces during King Philip's War
Weetamoo, leader of Pocasset forces during King Philip's War
Key Event
King Philip's War

The second season of History: Beyond the Textbook focuses on the stories of individuals who shaped the Revolutionary era in American history, and runs from February 27-May 7.
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