How the Americas transformed Tudor England
Summary
Dr. Lauren Working discusses her book *A Golden World*, revealing how materials and knowledge from the Americas transformed Elizabethan and Jacobean England. She highlights the impact of cochineal dye, tobacco, pearls, and emeralds, emphasizing that Indigenous expertise shaped English culture, fashion, and language. The episode challenges the narrative of one-way colonial influence, showing a complex, two-way exchange of goods and ideas.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Pepsi, Toyota, and Silicon Valley Bank
Introduction: Dr. Lauren Working and 'A Golden World'
Cochineal: The bug that created Renaissance red
Historical narratives and the erasure of Indigenous perspectives
Sir Francis Drake's mural and Indigenous knowledge
The 'Golden World': Gold fever and mercantilism
Sponsors: Quince, Pepsi, and Toyota
Tobacco: Adoption, King James, and mass consumption
Indigenous influence on tobacco cultivation and smoking
Pearls: Venezuelan origins and gendered symbolism
Emeralds: Colombian mining and Tudor jewelry
Exotic pets: Guinea pigs, monkeys, and parrots
Conclusion: Two-way exchange and Shakespearean language
Outro and sponsors: SVB, Disney+, and Plumbing
Listen ad-free on Castria