The North American fur Trade

Overview,What was the Fur Trade?

what was traded?

The fur trade Began in the late 15 century and early 16th and involved two main parties, The first nations of Canada and northern U.S, and powerful European nations such as the French and the british. It all began when Christopher columbus headed for India to establish trade routes but instead stumbled upon the shores of modern day North America changing the world forever. Later many more European explorers came soon discovering that these indigenous peoples were skilled trappers and had very valuable fur that Europeans could create wealth from they immediately began trading. Thus creating a historical event that would forever change how things have been done. Pushing globalization forward on the road to where we are today.

Of course fur and European metals and goods but many other belongings and ideas were exchanged as well. The first nations taught lots to the Europeans on how to survive such as what crops to crow and herbal medicines. New religions and cultures were introduced on both sides and the Europeans pushed theirs upon them heavily. And of course sickness and desease. The Europeans brought over blankets containing a disease known as small pox which killed thousands of native american people. The word of the new world spread as well making people want to come and settle.

Timeline of Events Leading to the Fur Trade

- 1400-1500. The silk road in asia becomes dangerous, Europeans need a new route.

-1492. Explorers discover North America thinking it is India.

-1490’s onward. begin colonizing and exploiting the land for resources

-1610 beaver pelt hats are the new fad everyone rich with status “needs” one

-1600’s-1800’s Voyagers capitalizing on this go to the new world to begin trading

-Europe is now fighting for land and power in the new world

where and when

citations

Trading had been going on long before by both participating parties so when the European countries came it was natural for them to trade. The french began trading in the 16th century and the french the 17th. Later on more countries came such as Spain, Netherlands, and even Russia but they were busy with other things such as colonialism so it mainly stuck between The british and the French. The economic peak of the fur trade was in the 1800's. Companies were making more money than they knew what do to with but then fashion changed and no one wanted fur anymore, and pelt bearing animals were hunted to scarcity ending the fur trade in the mid 1800's.

"The Fur Trade in Canada and America | Old Montana Prison Museums." Old Montana Prison Museums. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.

"Hbc Heritage | Timeline." Hbc Heritage | Timeline. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.

"Fur Trade." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.

"Maps." Maps. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.

Legacies.

why is this significant to modern day and globalization?

well, this is an important aspect and key event to do with globalization because it brought people over from the east into the western hemisphere of the world. Yes people were here already but it brought civilized nations with advanced technology boosting north america to where we are today. Canada and the U.S were shaped around this event. If it didn't happen then we would most likely not be here today. There are still many legacies of the fur trade and you can see on todays society where it has effected us.

There are many legacies from the fur trade that our present in our day and age such as the relationship and affairs we have with Canada's first nations people. Some first nations still live on reserves and still live by numbered treated assigned during the fur trade. The European people did not treat the aboriginals so kindly and it shows today, the scars residential schools have on people and their families. Or the less fortunate families people are born into because of the mistreatment of their ancestors. It truly is sad but there are other legacies as well such as the bay! the Hudson bay trading company was a leading competitor in the fur trade and is still a corporation popularly used today. And lastly culture, the fur trade established so much culture which still can be find today and is similar to what we have.

The North American fur Trade

By Geoffrey Otto