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Canadian History 11-September 2016 Chapter 2: Contact and Colonization Aboriginal Societies: On the eve of contact, Canada contained six major cultural regions of native peoples: 1. Woodlands – boreal forest hunter-gatherers (land and marine mammals); wigwams, birch bark canoe. 2. Southern Lowlands – rolling hills, temperate climate – agricultural food base; longhouses. 3. Interior Plains – nomadic buffalo hunters; tepee – lightweight, easily transported; pemmican. 4. Northern Subarctic – nomadic hunter-gatherers; bark-covered shelters. 5. Pacific Coast Peoples – sea resources, fishing; permanent settlements, rich artistic heritage. 6. Arctic – hunters of land and marine mammals; igloo, caribou, seal. Complex and Diverse Societies: While culturally varied, the native peoples shared a common worldview rooted in their close relationship with the land. Humans were an integral part of the environment, rather than being in control of it or above it. The natural and spirit worlds were inseparable. All native technologies reflected a deep knowledge and understanding of the natural environment. Many of their technologies have found their way into Canadian culture – canoes, parkas, sleds, snowshoes. Government structures: Smaller, nomadic groups had egalitarian governments where group interests took priority over individual welfare. Sedentary/agricultural societies lived in permanent settlements with larger populations, requiring more complex systems of government based upon centralized authority. Economy: There was considerable contact amongst various tribes, trading surplus goods with one another. Contact: Europeans arrived around 1500 CE, gradually disrupting the delicate balance that existed between the native people’s lifestyle and their environment. At first, both sides benefited, as Europeans relied on native knowledge, technologies and skills to adjust to life in North America. The aboriginal peoples found European technologies useful in their daily lives. Contact was spread over two centuries, and gradually transformed the aboriginal cultures in the process. European Societies: In 16th century Europe, several factors combined to set the stage for a burst of global exploration and expansion that ushered in the Modern Age of history: Various kingdoms and city-states were competing for supremacy on the continent of Europe Canadian History 11-September 2016 Economic growth – many nations wanted to expand their ambitions and sought wealth and power beyond Europe to do so New seafaring and military technologies made exploration possible Western European nations were seeking trade routes to the spices, silks and precious gems of Asia, a route controlled at that time by Italian city-states (Pisa, Genoa, Venice) and Islamic influences in the Middle East The “three G’s” combined to encourage European expansion – Gold, Gospel and Glory Church and State: The Reformation, which began early in the 16th century, eventually split Europe into rival Roman Catholic and Protestant states. The Roman Catholic nations of Spain, Portugal and France launched a Counter-Reformation committed to spreading Roman Catholic beliefs and values, carried out by Roman Catholic religious orders. Missionaries would play a critical role in the early history of North America. Fur trade fuelled by European demand for beaver-felt hats Colonialism and European Expansion: Various European countries – Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, France and England – practiced colonialism as they sought to expand their influence in Europe and the New World. Colonialism and expansion became the main themes of the day in the Europe of the 16th and 17th centuries. Portugal: 15th & 16th centuries – explored down the Atlantic coast of Africa, around the tip of the continent and into the Indian Ocean to India, China, Japan and south Asia Portuguese – Spanish rivalry led to Columbus’ voyage westward under sponsorship of Spain’s Ferdinand and Isabella Spain: In the face of Portuguese success at reaching the Far East, hired an Italian navigator, Christopher Columbus, to set off westward in search of an all-water route to the riches of the east Discovered Haiti and Dominican Republic of today Spanish eventually invaded and conquered all of Central and most of South America Columbus’ voyage in turn inspired John Cabot’s voyage of 1497, under the service of the English flag England: Cabot’s 1497 voyage led to the discovery of Newfoundland, Labrador or Cape Breton Cabot noted the abundant fishing resources available – particularly the Grand Banks cod fishery Fish was a staple and valuable European commodity in Europe, as the Roman Catholic calendar prohibited the eating of meat for 153 days a year By the early 1500s, Newfoundland cod was a regular commodity in European markets France: Inspired by the exploration successes of its European neighbors and rivals, send Jacques Cartier to the New World Cartier’s 1534 voyage led to the exploration of the Gulf of St Lawrence and St. Lawrence River, the first of three voyages in search of gold and riches Contact made with Mi’kmaq, who sought to trade furs for European iron goods Similar response from Iroquois along shores of St. Lawrence River Canadian History 11-September 2016 By 1600, there was a burgeoning Tadoussac became the first center of the fur trade (at the mouth of the Saguenay River) Various Algonquian tribes brought furs to trade with the French Aboriginal knowledge of the land, their hunting and navigational skills were vital to the success of the fur trade 1608 – French under Champlain attempt to solidify their control of the fur trade with a permanent settlement at Quebec – an attempt to move the fur trade further inland, consolidate and control the flow of furs 1609 – Champlain forms an alliance with the Algonquin and Wendat (Huron), in order to consolidate control of the fur trade in the area north of the Great Lakes, agreeing to support these tribes in a war on their common enemy, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) English enter the fur trade from the north: 1668 – English capitalize on Hudson’s earlier exploration of Hudson Bay, undertaking a fur trading expedition and founding a fur trade post on James Bay 1670 – creation of Hudson’s Bay Co. by royal charter – exclusive trading rights to all lands drained by Hudson Bay and rivers flowing into it – almost 40 % of present-day Canada An intense French – English rivalry emerged, as each struggled to control the fur trade in the North American interior English advantage – Hudson Bay offered easier access to the western interior French forced to establish long lines into interior, in order to obtain the furs first Development of French coureur de bois – French and Metis traders who pushed inland in search of furs before they reached Hudson Bay This economic rivalry was the major cause of French – English tension in North America The Impact of Contact: Original impact: An equitable exchange Aboriginal technologies benefited Europeans – canoes, food preservation, navigational and survival skills European technologies changed aboriginal culture – guns, iron kettles, knives As time passed, the initial interdependence was replaced by Aboriginal dependence on European manufactured goods, causing social and economic disruption to Aboriginal societies Harmful effects of contact: Fur trade intensified the long-standing hostilities amongst aboriginal peoples, as various tribes sought to dominate the most lucrative fur-bearing areas and monopolize trade with the Europeans As fur supplies from one area were exhausted, some tribes moved into territories further inland, displacing other aboriginal groups Depletion of animal resources hampered the operation of traditional aboriginal economies Introduction of infectious diseases to which the aboriginals had no natural immunity or resistance – smallpox, measles, influenza – devastated native populations Introduction of alcohol and subsequent addiction problems had devastating long-term implications for native societies Natives moved from independence through interdependence to dependence on Europeans for survival Canadian History 11-September 2016 Impact on Europeans: New foods that originated in the Americas began spreading through the world by the late 1600s – corn, potatoes, squash, beans, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes The potato in particular had a significant impact in Europe, becoming a staple food that helped eliminate famine and improve overall nutrition Corn became a significant food for livestock and poultry, resulting in healthier animals, greater supplies of protein-rich milk, cheese, meat and eggs Other American products had a more negative impact – tobacco smoking became a recreational habit in Europe Demand for tobacco and other plantation crops (sugar cane) created the rich plantation economies of the American South and Caribbean Islands World-wide distribution of American resources fueled a global economic revolution – Europe experienced a dramatic increase in wealth, expanding eight-fold in the span of the 16th century alone Old trade routes were almost forgotten by Europeans in favor of American trade Result was the transformation of Europe from an old mercantilist economy to the gradual emergence of a capitalist economy and society, with the development of a global trading network controlled by Europe’s great powers