Contact PeriodContact Period

© Ruth Writer© Ruth WriterWestern Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University

First Europeans???First Europeans???

• Little in way of written records• Little knowledge of first CONTACT• Vikings—Norsemen• More than 1000 years ago

Nordic made way to North AmericaNordic made way to North America

• Vikings from Scandinavia• Move to Iceland• Then to Greenland• Without compass—invented in 1100s

Lemonick, Michael D. and Dorfman, Andrea. “The Amazing Vikings,” Time, 8 May 2000, Cover and pages 68-76.

Lemonick, Michael D. and Dorfman, Andrea. “The Amazing Vikings,” Lemonick, Michael D. and Dorfman, Andrea. “The Amazing Vikings,” TimeTime, 8 May 2000, page 71., 8 May 2000, page 71.

_____. _____. The Nystrom Atlas of Canada and the WorldThe Nystrom Atlas of Canada and the World. Chicago: . Chicago: Nystrom, 2003. Nystrom, 2003.

HerjulfsonHerjulfson

• One of the first explorers to “New World”• Driven off course--sailing to Greenland• 500 years before Columbus—985?• Driven southwest by winds• Likely sheltered in a Newfoundland Bay• Went on to Labrador; back to Greenland• Told sagas—rocky, forested land to west

Leif ErikssonLeif Eriksson

• 995 A.D. [circa]• To Baffin Island, Labrador• Reached Newfoundland/Labrador• Pleasant, grassy area w/ grapes• Loaded boats w/ timber back to Greenland

which was deforested

Ventures?Ventures?

• South to Vinland• Warm, grapes, grains• Where was this?– Florida?– Labrador?– Likely Annapolis Valley• Met Skraelings—barbarians, savages– Inuit ?– Earlier Europeans ?

Photo by R. Writer, 2010 at L’Anse aux Meadows, NL

Violence v. SettlementsViolence v. Settlements

• Eriksson’s daughter• Skraelings v. Vikings• Confrontations• Hurt colonization efforts• 1000-1300 tried to colonize• Traded for wood• Others followed took back furs/lumber

Photo by R. Writer, 2010 at L’Anse aux Meadows, NL

l’Anse aux Meadowsl’Anse aux Meadows[land of the meadows][land of the meadows]

• Northeastern tip of Newfoundland• 1000 A.D.• Earthen huts• Artifacts—archaeological digs• Women also settled—unknown names• Yarn from wool• Likely contact with Natives• May have gone into interior—Hudson Bay? MN?

Photo by R. Writer, 2010 near L’Anse aux Meadows, NL

Photos by R. Writer, 2010 at L’Anse aux Meadows, NLPhotos by R. Writer, 2010 at L’Anse aux Meadows, NL

Vikings End QuestVikings End Quest

• Ceased the colony in 1200s• Climatic change?• Took another 300 years before next quest• Did show of Canadian rich in resources

– Timber– Fish– Furs

Photos byR. Writer

New World ExplorationNew World ExplorationAge of ExplorationAge of Exploration

Why after 400 years?Why after 400 years?

• Information explosion—printing press• Northwest Passage quest• Mercantilism—profit• Rivalry between Catholic and Protestants• Technological changes

English ExplorersEnglish Explorers

• Cabot—1497• Frobisher—1578 • Davis—1585-1587 • Hudson—1610

http://www.fofweb.com/ http://www.canadiana.ca/hbc/_popups/PAM3explorers_e.htmhttp://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/davis-strait/

Giovanni Caboto [John Cabot]Giovanni Caboto [John Cabot]

• 1497—to Cape Breton Island and Newfoundland—looking for sea route

• Thought he landed in Indies—OOPS– Sailed to get riches—gold, spices, silk

• ??? Exact land fall• Forced back to England due to WINTER• 1498—larger but no more successful

CabotCabot

https://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/568408b318.jpg Photo of Newfoundland by R. WriterJefferys, C.W. The Picture Gallery of Canadian History. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1942.

French were TARDYFrench were TARDY

• Ended up with Canada due to late start• Larger powers turned back on Canada• Not as good for $$$• Mediterranean was the French turf• Never really caught up• Realized North America huge mass

But Fishing Continued But Fishing Continued

• Hungry Europeans• Population growth• More urban• Cod in Grand Banks

• Vital until 1992—YES! 1992• Later furs also became important

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Banks_of_Newfoundland

YES—let’s fishYES—let’s fish

• Fish more important to French than English—WHY?

• Cod #1• French had salt marshes—good for

processing fish• Catholic religion• Fishing villages set up each summer

– Cape Breton– Newfoundland

Cod Drying—Fish FlakesCod Drying—Fish Flakes

http://www.trinityvacations.com/do-see-trinity/surroundingattractions/visit-new-bonaventure

Jacques CartierJacques Cartier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cartier

Cartier’s VoyagesCartier’s Voyages1534-15421534-1542

First Voyage--1534First Voyage--1534

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cartier

Claiming of Canada for FranceClaiming of Canada for France

• Placed large wooden cross on bank of St. Lawrence

• Claimed all area land in name of Francis I• Natives told of great cities to the west

Interaction with IroquoisInteraction with Iroquois

• Traded with Natives—furs for Euro goods• Took back report of wealth and furs• Also took back two young Native men

Iroquois LonghousesIroquois Longhouses

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/longhouse/

Second VoyageSecond Voyage1535-61535-6

• Returned with chief’s sons• Up St. Lawrence with 3 ships• Realized salt water turned to fresh

– Disappointed– Not the ocean but a river

• Explored as far as Hocelaga [Montreal]

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cartier

Better trip?Better trip?

• Again traded with Natives• Did take back some gold nuggets• Told of copper to west• Misnomers—Lachine [China]• Canada• http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do;jsessionid=B304F8424A84605EDE21267B0A12C763.tomcat1?id=10123

• Portugal fishermen– “Aca nada”• Returned to France with Chief Donnacona

Wintering in CanadaWintering in Canada

• Never experienced such winter and cold• Inside walls coated w/ ice—6 inches thick• SCURVY

– 110 men– 100 men had scurvy– 25 died

• Tea from white cedar bark from Natives

Canada’s First PrescriptionCanada’s First PrescriptionNatives Save LivesNatives Save Lives

Dealing with scurvy

Making tea from white cedar

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/cartierbrebeuf/natcul/natcul2/c.aspx

I’ll Drink to That!I’ll Drink to That!“Intense cold froze the food and drink kept inside the ships, which were used for shelter during the winter season. The French were weakened by a combination of cold weather and poor food, and were unable to resist disease effectively. The 110 members of the crew primarily ate dried or salt meat; fruit and vegetables were absent from their diet. Owing to the lack of vitamin C, scurvy, a disease whose causes were unknown at the time, decimated the crew. By mid-February, nearly all of the sailors suffered from this disease. Their legs and arms became swollen, their gums rotted and their teeth fell out. Finally, and even though Cartier had employed a hundred and one ruses in order to dissimulate the poor health of his crew, the Amerindians supplied the scurvy-sufferers with an unhoped-for remedy. “http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/cartierbrebeuf/natcul/natcul2/c.aspx

Final Voyage—Oops!Final Voyage—Oops!1541-21541-2

• Trip postponed due to war with Spain• New commander—Roberval

– Cartier left prior to Roberval without approval– Donnacona not to return—likely died– Mrs. Donnacona not impressed

• 5 ships and passengers—settlers• To form colony—tap riches

Bad Hair Day for CartierBad Hair Day for Cartier

• Returning with gold and diamonds!• Met Roberval in St. John Bay,

Newfoundland• Demanded Cartier show him route • Cartier—left in middle of night

Roberval’s not happyRoberval’s not happy

• Stuck for winter without knowledge• Harsh winter• Iroquois MAD—Donnacona had not

returned• Marguerite story—niece of Roberval

– Maiden abandoned on island with lover and servant

• Couldn’t find Saguenay—land of riches

Marguerite’s story Marguerite’s story • Niece of Roberval taken aboard to remove

her from lover• Boyfriend a stow away aboard• Discovered by Roberval• Maiden abandoned on island with lover

and servant• Rescued later after child and others died• Returned to France—told story

Cartier’s TrailCartier’s Trail

• Cartier returned to France– No Roberval– NO GOLD– NO DIAMONDS

• Cartier discredited • Trial—not convicted

Grand BanksGrand Banks

• Importance of fish in Canadian history• Fish so thick--scooped up in buckets• Source of salt for curing available• Catholics—no meat 153 days• European rivers dead

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Banks_of_Newfoundland

ResourcesResources

• http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents/explorers/johncabot.htm• http://www.historymuseum.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france/the-explorers/jacques-cartier-1534-

1542/ • Glover, Douglas. Elle. Fredericton: Goose Lane Editions, 2003. [Marguerite’s story]• Goodman, Joan Elizabeth. Paradise. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. [Marguerite’s story]• Lemonick, Michael D. and Dorfman, Andrea. “The Amazing Vikings,” Time, 8 May 2000, Cover

and pages 68-76.• McInnis, Edgar. Canada: A Political and Social History. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,

1964. Also found on line at http://www.archive.org/details/canadaapolitical013013mbp • Moore, Christopher, “Colonization and Conflict: New France and its Rivals.” Brown, Craig editor.

The Illustrated History of Canada. Toronto: Lester Publishing Limited, 2007. • http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/cartierbrebeuf/natcul.aspx • http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jacques-cartier/ [includes video] • Wallace, Birgitta. “Viking Farewell,” The Beaver, December 2006. [pages 19-24]

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