European European Exploration of Exploration of

CanadaCanada

European Exploration of European Exploration of CanadaCanada

• Who discovered and Who discovered and explored the land we know explored the land we know as Canada?as Canada?

• Was it the first people who Was it the first people who crossed the land bridge? crossed the land bridge? Was it the Norse people of Was it the Norse people of northern Europe ? Or was it northern Europe ? Or was it John Cabot or Jacques Cartier John Cabot or Jacques Cartier who first claimed it for their who first claimed it for their respective nations?respective nations?

• In reality, the exploration of In reality, the exploration of Canada was accomplished Canada was accomplished by many people and nations by many people and nations over thousands of years.over thousands of years.

First SettlementFirst Settlement• The first settlers of Canada were people from The first settlers of Canada were people from

Asia.Asia.• They migrated via the Bering Strait land They migrated via the Bering Strait land

bridge (connecting Siberia and Alaska) some bridge (connecting Siberia and Alaska) some 12,000 years ago.12,000 years ago.

• These first settlers These first settlers are the present day are the present day native Inuit.native Inuit.

The First European The First European Explorers - VikingsExplorers - Vikings

• In the 11In the 11thth century, the century, the Norse people of Scandinavia Norse people of Scandinavia (Vikings), had already (Vikings), had already established a reputation in established a reputation in Europe for being great boat Europe for being great boat builders and daring in their builders and daring in their seamanship. seamanship.

• They used their boats to They used their boats to carry out raids on their carry out raids on their European neighbors, and European neighbors, and then to travel to Iceland and then to travel to Iceland and Greenland.Greenland.

The First European The First European Explorers- VikingsExplorers- Vikings

• With their extensive With their extensive travels, a group of travels, a group of Norse caught the first Norse caught the first glimpses of North glimpses of North America.America.

• The telling of these The telling of these trans-oceanic trans-oceanic adventures was passed adventures was passed down to others by oral down to others by oral tradition and then tradition and then written down in what written down in what has become known as has become known as the Vinland Sagas.the Vinland Sagas.

• These stories tell of the These stories tell of the journeys of various journeys of various Norse including Leif Norse including Leif Erikson and the Erikson and the discovery of Vinland. discovery of Vinland.

The First European The First European Explorers- VikingsExplorers- Vikings

• Viking contact is Viking contact is supported by the supported by the remains of a Viking remains of a Viking settlement in L'Anse settlement in L'Anse Aux Meadows, Aux Meadows, Newfoundland.Newfoundland.

• The Vikings were The Vikings were the first to cross the the first to cross the Atlantic to live in Atlantic to live in North America. North America. They did not stay They did not stay long and it would be long and it would be another 500 years another 500 years before another before another European would sail European would sail to North America.to North America.

L'Anse Aux Meadows Reconstruction of Viking Site - NewfoundlandL'Anse Aux Meadows Reconstruction of Viking Site - Newfoundland

Viking ExplorationViking Exploration

• Giovanni Caboto was an Giovanni Caboto was an experienced Italian experienced Italian navigator, known to the navigator, known to the English as John Cabot.English as John Cabot.

• He was hired by King Henry He was hired by King Henry VII of England to make a VII of England to make a voyage of discovery voyage of discovery westward, looking for a westward, looking for a route to Asia.route to Asia.

• In 1497, he left England and In 1497, he left England and one month later saw land. one month later saw land. He called it He called it ‘‘new found landnew found land’’ and traveled along for 30 and traveled along for 30 days before returning to days before returning to England.England.

• Cabot believed he had Cabot believed he had reached Asia and was then reached Asia and was then sent on a second voyage to sent on a second voyage to explore the land he claimed explore the land he claimed for England.for England.

England – John CabotEngland – John Cabot

England – John CabotEngland – John Cabot• Cabot was the first to report on a part of America Cabot was the first to report on a part of America

after Columbus, but his explorations were further after Columbus, but his explorations were further north in colder regions on the shores of what we north in colder regions on the shores of what we know as Canada today.know as Canada today.

• Without a shipWithout a ship’’s log, historians have still been able s log, historians have still been able to use various accounts to piece together Cabotto use various accounts to piece together Cabot’’s s journeys. They believe he visited the land between journeys. They believe he visited the land between Labrador and Cape Breton.Labrador and Cape Breton.

• CabotCabot’’s s second second journey (May journey (May 1498) to 1498) to NewfoundlanNewfoundland was ill-d was ill-fated. He fated. He never never returned. returned.

England – John CabotEngland – John Cabot

• Even though the land of Even though the land of Canada was claimed by Canada was claimed by the English, it was the the English, it was the French who first began French who first began to explore further inland to explore further inland and set up colonies.and set up colonies.

• It began in 1534 when It began in 1534 when the King of France, the King of France, Francois I, sent Jacques Francois I, sent Jacques Cartier to, Cartier to, ““discover discover certain islands and certain islands and lands where it is said lands where it is said there is large amount of there is large amount of gold and other riches to gold and other riches to be found.be found.””

France – Jacques CartierFrance – Jacques Cartier

Jacque CartierJacque Cartier

France – Jacques CartierFrance – Jacques Cartier• Cartier left for Canada with two ships and 61 men to look for a Cartier left for Canada with two ships and 61 men to look for a

way to Asia. In the course of this search, he explored what later way to Asia. In the course of this search, he explored what later became known as Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands, Prince became known as Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands, Prince Edward Island and the Gaspé Peninsula.Edward Island and the Gaspé Peninsula.

• While at Prince Edward Island, he traded with the native While at Prince Edward Island, he traded with the native people. This was the first act of much trade between the people. This was the first act of much trade between the French and native people.French and native people.

• Cartier was also the first European to explore deeply into the Cartier was also the first European to explore deeply into the interior through the St Lawrence River.interior through the St Lawrence River.

France – Jacques CartierFrance – Jacques Cartier

CartierCartier’’s First Voyages First Voyage

France – Jacques CartierFrance – Jacques Cartier

CartierCartier’’s Second Voyages Second Voyage

• Martin Frobisher was the first Martin Frobisher was the first Englishman since Cabot to Englishman since Cabot to look for the Northwest look for the Northwest Passage.Passage.

• The Northwest Passage was The Northwest Passage was the fabled sea route that the fabled sea route that Europeans hoped would link Europeans hoped would link them to Asia.them to Asia.

• European exploration for this European exploration for this passage made them aware of passage made them aware of a whole new world or a whole new world or continent which proved to be continent which proved to be profitable through fishery and profitable through fishery and fur trade.fur trade.

• Frobisher though, in his Frobisher though, in his pursuit for the Northwest pursuit for the Northwest Passage was the first Passage was the first European to sail into what European to sail into what later became known as the later became known as the Hudson Strait.Hudson Strait.

England – Martin England – Martin FrobisherFrobisher

England – Martin England – Martin FrobisherFrobisher

FrobisherFrobisher’’s First Voyage - June 7, 1576 - October 9, 1576 s First Voyage - June 7, 1576 - October 9, 1576

FrobisherFrobisher’’s Third Voyage - May 31, 1578 - August, 1578 s Third Voyage - May 31, 1578 - August, 1578

1717thth Century European Century European ExplorationExploration

• One hundred years after the One hundred years after the first explorations, Europeans first explorations, Europeans were taking advantage of were taking advantage of fishing Canadafishing Canada’’s rich Atlantic s rich Atlantic waters.waters.

• At the turn of the 17At the turn of the 17thth century, trade with the century, trade with the natives grew with the rich natives grew with the rich resource being beaver furs.resource being beaver furs.

• The growth in this industry The growth in this industry led to the first European led to the first European settlements in Canada.settlements in Canada.

• The most prominent of the The most prominent of the explorers/settlers was the explorers/settlers was the Frenchman Samuel De Frenchman Samuel De Champlain. Champlain.

1616thth Century Map showing the areas with lots of Cod Century Map showing the areas with lots of Cod

• Samuel De Champlain was a sailor who became Samuel De Champlain was a sailor who became respected for his skills in navigating and respected for his skills in navigating and mapmaking.mapmaking.

• He was instrumental in forming alliances with the He was instrumental in forming alliances with the native peoples in Canada and generally opening native peoples in Canada and generally opening North America up to French trade.North America up to French trade.

• He spent months at a time exploring and recording He spent months at a time exploring and recording his travels.his travels.

France – Samuel De France – Samuel De ChamplainChamplain

ChamplainChamplain’’s Map of s Map of New France (1632)New France (1632)

• On July 3, 1608, he established the first permanent On July 3, 1608, he established the first permanent settlement of Quebec in Canada.settlement of Quebec in Canada.

• Champlain was also the first European to see the Champlain was also the first European to see the Great Lakes.Great Lakes.

France – Samuel De France – Samuel De ChamplainChamplain

France – Samuel De France – Samuel De ChamplainChamplain

ChamplainChamplain’’s First Voyage – July 1603s First Voyage – July 1603

France – Samuel De France – Samuel De ChamplainChamplain

ChamplainChamplain’’s Second Voyage – May 1604s Second Voyage – May 1604

France – Samuel De France – Samuel De ChamplainChamplain