About this episode

This episode explores the Starving Time of 1609-1610 in Jamestown, focusing on the extreme measures settlers took to survive, including cannibalism.

**This episode contains graphic explorations of starvation and cannibalism** What happens when a colony reaches the edge of survival? In this third episode leading up to the 250th anniversary of American independence, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr Rachel Winchcombe examine the so-called Starving Time of 1609-1610, when Jamestown settlers faced famine, desperation and cannibalism. Together they reveal the complex human story behind early colonial America’s most infamous crisis. MORE Raleigh and the Lost Colony of Roanoke Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Trading British Brides for American Tobacco Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds. Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe .   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More episodes of Not Just the Tudors

• French Revolution: Storming of the Bastille · July 19, 2026 · 55 min
• True Crime: Murder & the Popish Plot · July 15, 2026 · 43 min
• Who Lit the French Revolution? · July 12, 2026 · 54 min
• Bess of Hardwick: Elizabethan England's Richest Woman · July 8, 2026 · 45 min
• Edmund Halley & His Comet · July 5, 2026 · 57 min
• The Mayflower and its Pilgrims · July 1, 2026 · 48 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Not Just the Tudors podcast page.