First Europeans in Canada
Canadian History Grade 11
1
The Vikings
• Date – 1000 CE (Common Era)
• Proof – Landing on the shores of
North America exists in Norse
legends or sagas, a few vague
references in other ancient text, and
most importantly, in archaeological
evidence.
• Evidence:
i. The Vinland Map
• Is said to be a 15th century map
depicting Vikings exploration of N.A.
centuries before Columbus. If
genuine, the map is one of the great
documents of Western Civilization, if
fake, it’s an astonishingly clever
forgery.
2
Evidence cont…
• ii. L’Anse aux Meadows
• In 1960, the remains of an
ancient settlement was found
on the tip of the Great
Northern Peninsulas of
Newfoundland. Near the
fishing village of L’Anse aux
Meadows, in a grassy meadow,
the ruins of eight walled
structures were uncovered
after years of excavation.
These structures were similar
to those built by the Norse
Vikings in Iceland and
Greenland.
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minu
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2) John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) (1450-1499)
• Italian, but sailed for England
(blessing of King Henry VII)
• Developed a theory that Asia could
be reached by sailing West.
• Sailed in 1497 (5 years after
Christopher Columbus) with an
18-man crew.
• **Credit for –
• “Discovering” Cape
Breton and Labrador
Region
• Claimed these regions for
England
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minu
• COD!!!
te.do?id=10122
4
John Cabot Cont…
• Told stories of codfish so thick in
waters off of these
“Newe Found Isles” that they
could be scooped up in baskets
let down from the side of his
ship.
This news, was met with great
enthusiasm all over Europe,
where Catholics abstained from
eating meat for more than 160
days a year. Therefore fish was
always in great demand!
• ***This resulted in a steady
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minu
te.do?id=10122
stream of Europeans to the
shores of Newfoundland for fish
and eventually settlement!
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3) Jacques Cartier (1491-1557)
•
French and sailed for France.
• 1534: sailed to find the North-West Passage to
China.
• *** Credits:
• “Discovering” Gulf of St. Lawrence, PEI, New
Brunswick, Stadacona (*Quebec City) and
Hochelaga (Montreal).
• Responsible for French Land Claims in North
America.
• His written accounts provided the first European
Commentary about the Mi’kmaq and arrived in
the area in 1603, the Iroquois has completely
vanished.
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/min
• Depended upon Iroquois for guides.
te.do?id=10123
• He entered the Iroquois territory of Stadacona
(now Quebec City) and mistakenly named
their country “Canada” (which actually
means “The Village”)
6
Samuel de Champlain (Sammy the Champ!)
(circa ~1567-1635)
• French and sailed for France.
• In 1603 made the first of 10
voyages across the Atlantic.
• Was a mapmaker and
explorer.
• Responsible for the
establishment of the FIRST
PERMANENT
SETTLEMENT in Canada.
• Named it “New France”
• Died in 1635
7
Samuel de Champlain
• In 1604 sailed under the command of Pierre Du Gua de Monts. And
established a settlement in Port Royal (Bay of Fundy). Returned in a
voyage in 1608.
• 1609, to secure an alliance with the Algonquin and Montagnais (Huron)
tribes, Champlain aided them in warfare with the Iroquois.
• Champlain himself killed two Iroquois Chiefs from point blank range
with a musket!
• Though the Iroquois were afraid at the time, Champlain’s actions would
create a fierce war with the Iroquois that would last for the next 60 years
of New France’s existence. Well into the 1660’s.
• By 1626 the population of New France was only 60 ppl (mostly men = fur
trade)
• -slow
growth and poor protection were the two major
problems of New France at the time
8
Sammy the Champs Historical
Achievements
• Champlain established Quebec, which is seen as the
beginning of New France.
• Was given the title “Father of New France” due to this.
• Champlain promoted colonization through books, maps
and drawings.
• His vision of a
French
settlement in
North America
is still realized
today in the
form of the
province of Quebec.
9
Routes of the Three Explorers
10
History of (your country)
• Make a timeline of the important historical events of your
country or province.
Name of
Event 1
Name of
Event 2
Name of
Event 3
Name of
Event 4
Name of
Event 5
Name of
Event 6
Name of
Event 7
Name of
Event 8
1st Date
2nd Date
3rd Date
4th Date
5th Date
6th Date
7th Date
8th Date
Description of
Event
Description
of Event
Description
of Event
Description
of Event
Description
of Event
Description
of Event
Description
of Event
Description
of Event
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